Five exemplary Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees were honored by the Board of Education on April 10. Honored were Jennifer Davis, Connie Bannister, Sheryl Morrison, Christine Turner and Frances Austin.
Davis is a third-grade teacher at Indian Head Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition for leading Indian Head’s Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) team, infusing technology in her lesson plans and for furthering her education. Davis leads the PBIS team in developing its portion of the school improvement plan and presents Indian Head’s School-Wide Information Systems (SWIS) data at staff meetings. She embraces instructional technology in her classroom on a daily basis, including data driven and formative assessments in lessons. Davis is pursuing National Board Certification and her master’s degree in Math Instructional Leadership. She also completed Algebraic Reasoning and Research Design and Math Investigations trainings. Indian Head Principal Toni Melton-Trainor said Davis is organized, articulate and willing to go the extra mile for students. “Our success in the area of schoolwide PBIS is attributed to Jennifer Davis’s dedication. She is an exemplar role model for her peers,” Melton-Trainor wrote in a nomination letter.
Bannister is a secretary at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition for starting a food pantry and food drives at the school, for serving as a resource for staff and parents, and for attending trainings to further her professional growth. Bannister has been employed by Charles County Public Schools for 25 years. She coordinates food donations and is a liaison for the weekend backpack program which is a partnership with an organization that fills backpacks with food for students in need. Bannister also organizes Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy’s community Christmas program that provides gifts and dinners for families in need. She keeps the office running smoothly and supports all school programs. Bannister is a natural leader, and staff and community members are always willing to assist her with projects. She attends numerous workshops and trainings to refine and develop her skills including registration training, student data system and Edline Web portal training. Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Principal Kristin Shields said Bannister takes great pride in her work and goes above and beyond the call of duty. “She has touched the lives of students, parents and staff through her roles as a parent liaison and secretary. She is extremely dedicated to helping others,” Shields wrote in a nomination letter.
Morrison is a pupil personnel worker at J.C. Parks Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition for supporting the Reading Racers program, coordinating Parks Christmas celebration project, and for doing what is needed to support Parks children, families and staff. Morrison has worked at Parks for the past 22 years. She coordinates fundraisers to help buy books for the Reading Racers program, a reading partner/buddy program. The program has assisted students in increasing their scores in the area of reading performance. Morrison also organized Parks’ first Christmas celebration which hosted 22 homeless families and provided them with a holiday meal, gifts, clothing and additional food items. Principal Thadine Wright said Morrison’s dedication and compassion is evident in all that she does. “Her daily interactions with students in the classroom and with the community as a pupil personnel worker show her commitment to student success. She has deeply impacted and influenced the staff at J.C. Parks,” Wright wrote in a nomination letter.
Turner is a language arts teacher at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. She was nominated for recognition for displaying leadership, for implementing gifted education practices, and for helping coordinate school programs.
