RaeShauna Mboma, special education teacher at Baden Elementary School, has been named the 2011-2012 Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year. Mboma was selected from among 20 outstanding teacher candidates for this prestigious honor.
“Ms. Mboma represents the best of the best,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Jr., Superintendent of Schools. “Thanks to her dedication and effectiveness, she is helping to ensure the success of all students at Baden Elementary School. This year, we had an extremely strong group of educators nominated for Teacher of the Year, and I congratulate all of our nominees.”
A product of Prince George’s County Public Schools, Mboma went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. She began her teaching career in the school system 11 years ago at her childhood school, Rose Valley Elementary, and has been serving students in Baden for the past three years. Committed to keeping abreast of the latest techniques and technology in education, she is currently pursuing a doctorate in education administration and participating in the Prince George’s County Public School’s Pre-Leadership Academy.
Mboma’s peers at Baden Elementary School nominated her for Teacher of the Year for her leadership, instructional effectiveness, and dedication to her students and school community. Currently, she serves fifth-graders in a MEANS (Making Education Accessible in Neighborhood Schools) classroom, a program made possible through a partnerhip with Johns Hopkins University. Through her effective teaching skills, students in the class were performing as well as their peers within three months.
Outside of the classroom, she volunteers countless hours tutoring students after school who need additional help, and host self-esteem-building “chats.” She chairs the School Wellness Council, is a member of the Student Interdisciplinary Team (SIT), the School Based Management Team (SBMT), and has been Teacher in Charge for the past several years. She is also part of her school’s professional development team, and provides training and strategies for improving achievement for special education students.
“Ms. Mboma’s most resounding quality is that of urgency and concern for the quality of education that her students receive,” said principal Danielle Goddard. “She is a team player and is always open to assisting colleagues with lesson planning and team collaboration. She encourages all parents to become more active in her classroom, and works with them to so they can assist students at home. Ms. Mboma is a person that any of us can go to in a time of need.”
Mboma will go on to compete with representatives from all 24 counties for the title of 2011-2012 Maryland Teacher of the Year, a competition coordinated by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). A peer committee will select the finalists, and the winner of the Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced during a ceremony in the fall. The winner will represent Maryland in the national competition.
The following 20 Prince George’s County Public Schools teachers were nominated for Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year, with five, including Mboma, selected as finalists (indicated by names in bold). Springhill Lake Elementary School teacher Shana Sterkin was selected as runner-up for the award:
• Erin Cribbs, Croom Vocational
• Tenesia Crook,Valley View Elementary School
• Frantz Deetjen, Bowie High School
• Wanda Dixon, Springhill Lake Elementary School
• Robin Droter, Baden Elementary School
• Ashanti Foster, Ernest Everett Just Middle School
• Ching “Eileen” Lu Good, Melwood Elementary School
• Renee Hogan, Mount Rainier Elementary School
• Unique Hunter, Benjamin Foulois Creative & Performing Arts Academy
• Jasper Layne, Largo High School
• Marivit Mariano, Panorama Elementary School
• RaeShauna Mboma, Baden Elementary School
• Donnita McMillian, Largo High School
• Steve Mellen, Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
• Nancy Meyers, Carole Highlands Elementary School
• Marlene Parris, Largo High School
• Barbara Post, Adelphi ES
• Shana Sterkin, Springhill Lake Elementary School
• Barbara Wake-Holmes, Woodridge Elementary School
• Nancy Wood, Parkdale High School
About PGCPS
Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) is the 18th largest school district in the nation, with 198 schools, over 127,000 students, and nearly 18,000 employees. With an annual budget of $1.6 billion, the district serves a diverse student population of students living in urban, suburban, and rural communities. PGCPS is nationally recognized for its innovative programs and initiatives, including expansion of Advanced Placement courses, partnership programs with business and higher education, and the FIRST teacher incentive program.