Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees with careers that span a period of 40, 35, 30 and 25 years were recognized for their years of service to the school system and commitment to education.

Jill Jowdy-Morrow, the physical education teacher at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, has worked for CCPS for 41 years. She started as a long-term substitute at La Plata High School teaching physical education and coaching a varsity field hockey team — “Which I didn’t quite know how to coach,” she said. “It was a good group of girls, and I just followed their lead.”

In October 1980, Jowdy-Morrow interviewed for a PE position that would be split between two elementary schools — Wayside and Glasva. Both schools have since closed with Wayside refurbished, reopened and renamed Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School in the 1988-89 school year. Jowdy-Morrow has been at Higdon ever since.

Working with elementary school-aged children allows her to teach basic movement skills that students will carry on through life. She also strives to instill in them a lifelong love of movement. “I want them to have the power to be in charge of their own health, to know it’s important,” Jowdy-Morrow said.

During a traditional school year — 2019-20 was anything but — Jowdy-Morrow and the students get outside at least for a little while if the weather allows. “They don’t complain —there’s no ‘I’m too hot’, ‘it’s too cold’ — they know what I expect, and they know what to expect from themselves,” she said of the students.

She’s looking forward to getting kids back in the gym and using equipment again. Jowdy-Morrow didn’t have PE in school until she was in eighth grade and while she always knew she wanted to teach; it was around eighth grade that she realized she would like to teach PE. “I didn’t like how kids like me were picked last for teams. I hated that feeling,” she said, adding that at the time she hadn’t been taught basic athletic skills. “I vowed I would teach kids basic skills like throwing, catching, kicking and running.”

Also honored for the 40 years of service were Brenda Garner, secretary to the director of transportation, and Clifton Posey, building service manager at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School.

They are three of 37 CCPS employees the school system honored for 40, 35, 30 and 25 years of service.

40 years of service

Brenda Garner, secretary to the director of transportation, CCPS Annex 1 Building
Jill Jowdy-Morrow, physical education teacher, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
Clifton Posey, building service manager, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School

35 years of service

Susan Belmore, art teacher, T.C. Martin Elementary School
Brian Chase, building service manager, Gale-Bailey Elementary School
Tony Chase, building service manager, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center
Darrell Clark, building service worker, Maurice J. McDonough High School
John Farmer Jr., building service manager, F.B. Gwynn Educational Center
Robert Opiekun, vice principal, William A. Diggs Elementary School
Lisa Peters, secretary in special education, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building
George Simms, pupil data accounting specialist, Starkey
Jack Tuttle, content specialist — social studies, Starkey

30 years of service

Robert Ansell, pupil personnel worker, Starkey
Tanya Ansell, reading interventionist, Theodore G. Davis Middle School
Heather Beaton, library media specialist, General Smallwood Middle School
Glenn Belmore, risk manager, Starkey
Mary Capper, physical education teacher, Martin
Cheryl Davis, vice principal, North Point High School
Tanya Dorsey, building service manager, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School
Cynthia Fitzsimmons, infants and toddler teacher, Gwynn
Linda Gill, Ed.D., executive director of schools, Starkey
Todd Glasgow, physical education teacher, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School
Lawrence Gross, building service assistant manager, Malcolm Elementary School
Jana Heyl, drama teacher (theater arts), McDonough
Lisa Love, secretary in instruction, Starkey
Steven Miller, supervising specialist in transportation, CCPS Annex 1
Sheryl Morrison, pupil personnel worker, Starkey
Carroll Proctor, building service assistant manager, Diggs
Wendy Proctor, building service worker, Gwynn
Leslie Schroeck, high school resource teacher, La Plata High School
Jean Walter, special education instructional assistant, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School
Bruce Washington, building service manager, St. Charles High School
Vera Young, content specialist — English and language arts, Starkey
Julie Yowell, second-grade teacher, William B. Wade Elementary School

25 years of service

Michael Blaine, Latin teacher, La Plata High School
Amanda Chaney, food service manager, Berry Elementary School
Stephanie Shanholtzer, second-grade teacher, Wade.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School

Charles County Public Schools employees honored for their years of service