Be the Difference Awards Recognize Charles County Volunteers

The Board of Education of Charles County and Charles County Public Schools staff celebrated school system volunteers earlier this month at the Be the Difference Awards ceremony.

Held May 13 at North Point High School, the event honors the volunteer service of parents and families, community members and representatives of business and nonprofit organizations.

“We depend on our community,” Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., superintendent of schools, said. “I want to personally thank every volunteer who has been nominated for the amount of time and work that you put in our schools. It is incredible and it is volunteers that make our school communities so much better.”

Nicole M. Kreamer, Board chairperson, said the Be the Difference Awards program has grown over the years and echoed Navarro’s remarks. “We depend on our volunteers,” she said, adding that reading over the nominations is uplifting. “It is heartwarming to hear all that [our volunteers] are pouring into our schools, our students and the staff.”

Each school and center, and the CCPS administrative offices, can put forth a volunteer who deserves recognition. Four are then selected to represent the categories of elementary, middle and high school and the administrative offices.

The Rev. Cynthia Baker, pastor of Shabach Evangelistic Ministries, was named the Elementary School Volunteer of the Year. Baker is a retired educator who was named the CCPS Vice Principal of the Year in 2004 and CCPS Principal of the Year in 2010. For the past two years, Baker has been an active volunteer at Eva Turner Elementary School holding Family Markets, a food pantry, at the school at least once a month. Baker and her team of volunteers donate turkeys for Thanksgiving baskets given out to the families of students in need, they assist with food preparation for the school’s Community Day and support events like the annual Black History Month celebration and DADvisory Men’s Conference.

Ashley Robinson-Spann, Ph.D., was named the Middle School Volunteer of the Year for her work at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. Robinson-Spann is dedicated to education and is the senior director of higher education with The College Board. At Stoddert, Robinson-Spann played a key role in creating and sustaining the Future Focus Academy, a Saturday program that helps students build academic skills, confidence and gives them opportunities to expand their knowledge. “She has made a lasting impact on students and staff,” Stoddert Principal Marquelle Peavy said. Robinson-Spann gets bonus points from students for treating them to breakfast from Chick-fil-A during the Saturday program.

The Rev. Nelson Bowen, the pastor of iNgage Community Church, was named the High School Volunteer of the Year. Bowen and members of his church have been a community partner of Westlake High School for years. Church members have paid off students’ meal balances, led campus clean ups and recently renovated all the teacher lounges at the school. Bowen was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to a previous commitment at church.

This is the first year that CCPS administrative office could nominate volunteers who help at the county level. Felix Cummings, who has organized the twice-a-year countywide chess tournaments for students in kindergarten through Grade 12, was named the Central Office Volunteer of the Year. Cummings — with the assistance of his wife, retired CCPS teacher Hattie Cummings, and a band of volunteers — have been championing the benefits of chess for decades, working with CCPS for nearly 30 years. “He transformed a void into a thriving, character-building competitive culture that teaches students strategy, discipline, integrity and respect,” Kevin Lowdes, CCPS chief of teaching and learning, said.

Schools recognized the following volunteers for their service to CCPS students and staff.

The Be the Difference Awards highlight the vital role volunteers play in Charles County Public Schools, which serves more than 28,000 students across Waldorf, La Plata and surrounding communities. In a county where families, businesses and faith-based organizations actively support education, these honorees represent the dedication that strengthens local schools and helps students succeed.

Volunteers like these contribute to food security, academic enrichment, campus improvements and extracurricular programs that benefit children throughout Southern Maryland. Their efforts complement the work of teachers and staff, creating stronger school communities in Charles County and beyond.

The Charles County Board of Education and CCPS continue to encourage community members to get involved as volunteers. Opportunities range from classroom assistance and event support to mentoring and program leadership.

Elementary school

• Robert Snyder, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School.
• Adeeb Parkar, Berry Elementary School.
• Junius Hanley, Billingsley Elementary School.
• Da’Net Sturdifen, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School.
• Tiffany Goudie, Dr. James Craik Elementary School.
• Katie Tracz, William A. Diggs Elementary School.
• Lisa Anno, Gale-Bailey Elementary School.
• Sarah Teel, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School.
• Becky Chick, Indian Head Elementary School.
• Tariq Majeed, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School.
• Christopher Harrington, Malcolm Elementary School.
• Tricia Hershfeld, T.C. Martin Elementary School.
• Sandra Fykes, Mary H. Matula Elementary School.
• Amy Dailey, Arthur Middleton Elementary School.
• Adrian Tewell, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School.
• Cathy Holden, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School.
• Joyce Fuentes and Wendy Lopez, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School.
• Sabrina Mason, Mary B. Neal Elementary School.
• Kendra Thompson, J.C. Parks Elementary School.
• Danielle Skidmore, J. P. Ryon Elementary School.
• JaNae Lester, Margaret J. Thornton Elementary School.
• The Rev. Cynthia Baker, Eva Turner Elementary School.
• The Rev. Regina Banks, William B. Wade Elementary School.

Middle school

• Cherie Levy, Theodore G. Davis Middle School.
• James Tabourne, Glymont Middle School.
• Carolyn Wooster, Matthew Henson Middle School.
• Tanja Brown and Laval Brown, Mattawoman Middle School.
• Kaprece James, Phoenix International School of the Arts
• Jessica Brueckner, Leah McConnell and Rashonda Williams, Piccowaxen Middle School.
• Heather Malkasian, Milton M. Somers Middle School.
• Ashley Robinson-Spann, Ph.D., Benjamin Stoddert Middle School.

High school

• Amber Bowman, Henry E. Lackey High School.
• Tricia Rogerson, La Plata High School.
• Kristie Jarmusz, Maurice J. McDonough High School.
• Crystal Campbell, North Point High School.
• Sarafia Washington, St. Charles High School.
• Lorraine Jamison, Thomas Stone High School.
• The Rev. Nelson Bowen, Westlake High School.
• Chris Winkler, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center.

CCPS administrative office

• Tammy Wright, Office of School Administration and Leadership.
• Felix Cummings, Office of Teaching and Learning.
• Steven Baldo, Department of Special Education.