[Basic content on this page was: 1) copied and pasted from the page: http://ssep.ncesse.org/communities/community-directory/ (format and links are preserved in this simple process), and then 2) augmented with the extensive additional content St. Mary’s County provided on their comprehensive Community Profile that NCESSE had requested of all communities. Your Blog Administrator should do the same.]
[On this page you should also consider adding all the Science Advisors to your student teams, together with their affiliations and bios; and the members of your Step 1 review Board, together with their affiliations and bios. This page truly provides the reader the sense of ‘community’ associated with SSEP.]
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program in St. Mary’s County is overseen by a dedicated Local Team of administrators, teachers, and partner organizations. This page is dedicated to all those that make this program possible for the students of St. Mary’s County.
Program Scope
SSEP opportunity provided to 1,830 grade 8-12 students in 7 schools
SSEP Mission Participation
STS-134
Partner Institutions
Lead: St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Located in Southern Maryland, with a student population of about 17,000 students, our mission is to “Know the learner and the learning, expecting excellence in both. Accept no excuses educating ALL with rigor, relevance, respect, and positive relationships.” Our Core Value is that “All Children CAN and WILL LEARN.” Students in Grade 8 and in high school Chemistry classes will be participating in SSEP.
Maryland Space Grant Consortium
The Maryland Space Grant Consortium implements NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program in Maryland. Its programs target higher-education, pre-college, research and public outreach. The Maryland Space Grant Consortium provided funding for St. Mary’s County’s participation in SSEP.
St. Mary’s Hospital
St. Mary’s Hospital is a full-service, hospital delivering state-of-the-art emergency, acute inpatient and outpatient care. It strives to continuously promote, maintain and improve health through education and services. St. Mary’s Hospital is providing proposal reviewers and mentors for student teams.
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company which provides innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to customers worldwide. A local defense contractor, Northrop Grumman Corporation is supporting proposal review.
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
The Patuxent River Naval Air Station hosts the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, which provides for research, development and air and ground test and evaluation capabilities. The NAWCAD Outreach office will provide proposal reviewers and team mentors.
SSEP Community Program Co-Directors
Linda Musial, Ph.D.
Supervisor of STEM, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
ljmusial@scmps.org
Bio: Dr. Linda Musial Linda retired as Specialist in Science in a neighboring district before coming to her present position as Supervisor of STEM in 2008. She has prior experience in teaching middle school as well as college courses. In her present position, she has led the STEM Academies to expand in numbers, increase the number of partnerships, develop integrated STEM curricula, and create opportunities for STEM students, including internships.
Claudia Wortman
Supervisor of Instruction for Science, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
cgwortman@smcps.org
Bio: Claudia Wortman has served as Supervisor of Instruction for Science since 2001. She has experience teaching middle school, high school and college level sciences. She is responsible for curriculum, assessment, instruction, and professional development for science in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 and advocates inquiry approaches to science and project-based learning. She has worked with the Maryland State Department of Education for many years in the areas of standards and assessments.
Local Team Members
Irv Smoot
Grade 8 STEM Teacher
STEM Academy, Spring Ridge Middle School
Bio: Irv Smoot has taught middle school science for over 30 years at Spring Ridge Middle School. He served as Department Chair for many years and is now teaching Grade 8 STEM where his expertise is used to its full potential.
Stephanie Boruta
Grade 8 Teacher
Spring Ridge Middle School
Bio: Stephanie Boruta was a technology teacher before moving to teaching science several years ago. She uses her skills to bring technology into her science classroom, using computers to provide a wide variety of instructional approaches.
David Holland
Grade 8 Teacher
Spring Ridge Middle School
Bio: David Holland came to Spring Ridge Middle school last year after teaching for many years in North Carolina. He builds relationships with students resulting in high levels of student achievement. He teaches grade 8 science and coaches high school sports.
Sue Lewis
Grade 8 Teacher
Esperanza Middle School
Bio: Sue Lewis has taught at Esperanza Middle School for ten years teaching both 6th and 8th grades. She has been a Science Fair volunteer and has supported students in other opportunities beyond the classroom.
Vivian Azopardi
Grade 8 Teacher
Esperanza Middle School
Bio: Vivian Azopardi came to Esperanza Middle School in 2007, after teaching elementary students for several years. She uses a variety of performance tasks to apply the learning of science concepts in her classes.
Jennifer Consalvo
Grade 8 Teacher
Leonardtown Middle School
Bio: Jennifer Consalvo came to Leonardtown Middle School in 2005. She has taught grades 6, 7, and 8 and serves as Department Chair. She has led and participated in many professional development activities and holds a certificate in Administration and Supervision.
Melissa Cortinas
Grade 8 Teacher
Leonardtown Middle School
Bio: Melissa Cortinas is a veteran teacher of over 10 years at Leonardtown Middle School. She has taught both grade 7 and grade 8 science classes. She has also served as Department Chair and as MESA Coordinator.
Keri Gray
Grade 8 Teacher
Leonardtown Middle School
Bio: Keri Gray has served as both a reading teacher and a science teacher at Leonardtown Middle School. She currently teaches grade 8 science and serves as a grade 8 demonstration teacher for new teachers.
Eric Eichenmuller
Grade 8 Teacher
Margaret Brent Middle School
Bio: Eric Eichenmuller has taught grade 8 science at Margaret Brent Middle School for over 10 years. He regularly uses his extensive knowledge, experience and theatrical skills to engage his students in learning science.
Stacey Werly
Grade 8 Teacher
Margaret Brent Middle School
Bio: Stacey Werly is new to St. Mary’s County Public Schools. She previously taught high school biology in Virginia. She teaches grade 8 Science at Margaret Brent Middle School.
Patricia Guisewhite
Chemistry Teacher
Chopticon High School
Bio: Patty Guisewhite first came to Great Mills High School to teach chemistry in 2002, and now teaches Honors and AP Chemistry at Chopticon High School. She focuses on high levels of rigor which well-prepare students for chemistry and related careers.
Andrea Hicks
Chemistry Teacher
Chopticon High School
Bio: Andrea Hicks taught grade 8 science before moving to teach chemistry at Chopticon High School. For over ten years, she has been developing the knowledge and skills of science students. She has a true love of chemistry and its applications.
Julietta Wiltshire
Chemistry Teacher
Leonardtown High School
Bio: Julietta Wiltshire came to Leonardtown High School in 2008 from Jamaica. Julietta teaches chemistry imparting not only chemistry concepts, but a philosophy of life that builds her students into contributing members of society.
Nancy Huchla
Chemistry Teacher
Leonardtown High School
Bio: Nancy Huchla has been teaching chemistry at Leonardtown High School since 2008. She is skilled at helping students understand abstract concepts through hands-on activities and manipulatives.
Pauline Owen
Chemistry Teacher
Leonardtown High School
Bio: Polly Owen has taught chemistry and other sciences at Leonardtown High School for over 10 years. She teaches AP and honors chemistry where her expectations demand high levels of performance. She served as Science Fair Coordinator for several years.
Guy Barbato
Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Science Teacher
Leonardtown High School
Bio: Guy Barbato came to Leonardtown High School in 2006. During that time, he taught biology and environmental science, and is teaching chemistry for the first time this year. He is an expert in the use of technology in the classroom.
Ronnie Chavez
Chemistry Teacher
Great Mills High School
Bio: Ronnie Chavez is new to the chemistry department at Great Mills High School this year. He has many years of experience and most recently came from Baltimore. He is originally from the Philippines.
Rhonda Morgan
STEM Chemistry Teacher
Great Mills High School
Bio: Rhonda Morgan teaches STEM Chemistry and AP Biology at Great Mills High School, where she brings cutting-edge science into her classroom. She is a Washington Post Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year Award recipient.
St. Mary’s County Community Blog Administrators
Linda Musial, Ph.D.
Supervisor of STEM, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
ljmusial@scmps.org
Claudia Wortman
Supervisor of Instruction for Science, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
cgwortman@smcps.org
