Meet the Associate Faculty

Kelley is a retired Principal from Calvert County Public Schools with 30 years of experience in education. She currently supervises student teaching interns in Southern Maryland, and teaches NDM courses: English Language Learners/Classroom Teacher, Leadership Seminar I, and Leadership & Communication Skills for Special Educators & Other School-Based Personnel. She is also a consultant with Street Law Incorporated that works with Maryland school systems to advance justice through classroom and community education programs that empower people with the legal and civic knowledge, skills, and confidence to bring about positive change for themselves and others. 

Wendy Anderson’s experience in education spans over 35 years. In addition to her role as an adjunct professor at Notre Dame of Maryland, she is a Framework Specialist for the Danielson Group.

For the past 12 years, Wendy Anderson has held leadership positions with the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools Office. She retired from her position of Associate Superintendent in June of 2022. Wendy began her teaching career as a teacher St. Genevieve’s School in Elizabeth NJ and later taught at Sacred Heart School in Newport, Vermont.

For ten years Wendy served as the coordinator of the Alternative Teacher Licensure Program - Peer Review for the Vermont Department of Education. Wendy also was a classroom teacher and the coordinator of the enrichment program at Richmond Elementary School in Richmond, VT for many years. Wendy is a licensed administrator and has taught grades 3, 6 and Kindergarten.

Wendy attended St. Michael’s College in Winooski, VT where she earned a BA in Elementary Education. She also holds an MA degree in Education Administration from Keene College of NJ.

Grace Belz is a National Board Certified, English Language Development (ELD) teacher at John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City. She holds an APC teaching certification in TESOL (K–12) and French.

Over her eight years with Baltimore City Public Schools, Grace has focused on co-teaching Wit & Wisdom (ELA), providing targeted small-group instruction for students in grades 3–5, and supporting dually identified Multilingual Learners in self-contained special education settings.

Grace earned her B.A. in Communication (Public Relations) with a minor in French from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an M.A. in TESOL from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She is currently pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Dual Language and Bilingual Education at the University of Maryland.

Her professional interests include literacy development, dual language education, and trauma-informed movement and embodiment strategies. Grace also serves on the board of the Highlandtown Preschool and mentors early career teachers through Notre Dame of Maryland University and Baltimore City Public Schools.

Dr. Kimberly Culbertson is a new Associate Faculty member at Notre Dame. She earned a Doctorate in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations at Notre Dame, a Master’s degree in Chemical and Life Sciences from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Salisbury University. Kim currently serves as an Assistant Principal in Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), and previously served as a Chemistry and Forensic Science teacher, a Staff Development Teacher, and a curriculum writer. In 2022, she was named Maryland Assistant Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals, and a BCPS Superintendent’s Fellow. Additionally, she serves as an Expert Review Team Member for the Maryland State Department of Education and as an Executive Board Member of the BCPS Secondary Schools Administrators Association.

Jami Cunningham is a new faculty member at Notre Dame of Maryland this fall. She is a full-time 5th grade ELA/SS teacher in Red Lion Area School District in Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Education as a Reading Specialist. Jami is a strong advocate for students with reading differences and supports the science of reading movement happening across America right now.

Brooke Grams has been an Associate Faculty member at Notre Dame since 2015. She is a Library Supervisor with Baltimore City Public Schools and a proud alumnus of the School Library Certification program here at Notre Dame. Additionally, she has a Bachelor of Arts in English from The College of William and Mary, a Master’s Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore, and an Administrator Certificate from McDaniel College. Prior to serving in the district position, she was a School Library Media Specialist at Forest Park High School in Baltimore City, and prior to that she was a middle school English teacher. A strong advocate for school libraries, Brooke works with librarians in all grade levels and has used her research background to support libraries, most recently with the AP Capstone program serving as a national scorer for Collegeboard. In her district role, Brooke supports school libraries, develops library and instructional technology professional development, and supports the full implementation of the curriculum. 

Steph Grimes is a creative thinker, problem solver, educator, and writer. She hass specialized in developing programs, curriculum, and resources focused on preparing youth for future opportunities and experiences, research related to high-quality programs and youth outcomes, and creating documentation and resources to support youth development work to a national audience. As a former classroom teacher, out-of-school time (OST) program director, and Director of Programs for a nationally-serving educational and OST non-profit, Steph now works as an educational consultant and curriculum designer helping other youth-serving organizations and out-of-school time professionals create high quality opportunities for youth with a focus on their future. In addition to being a secondary author on many academic papers, Steph is the primary author on the College & Career Readiness Toolkit, a product of the Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network. She has been an Associate Faculty member at NDMU since 2019. 

Stephanie Hastings is a new Associate Faculty member here at Notre Dame. She is a full-time elementary library media specialist in Howard County, Maryland.  Prior to the 23 years, she has spent as a library media specialist, she was a fourth-grade general educator in Frederick County. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education/Minor in History from Frostburg State University. She also has her School Library Master's Degree in School Librarianship/Library Science from Western Maryland/McDaniel College. Stephanie is presently writing curriculum for both Howard County as well as Maryland Public Television and the Maryland State Education Association, focusing on fourth and fifth-grade social studies and research skills. 

Additionally, she is currently working towards National Board Certification in Library Media, Early Childhood through Young Adulthood. Stephanie's focus is on providing high-quality instruction for my students, acting as a curator of information for staff, and maintaining an open line of communication to act as a resource for families and community members to turn to for all information literacy questions. In her courses here at Notre Dame, Stephanie works to model effective teaching practices and provide students with content and pedagogical knowledge of library media and general education standards to be effective educators. She is looking forward to assisting other students with their plans to educate students in library media programs at elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Robin Hawley-Brillante is a specialist in the Office of Advanced Academics in Baltimore County Public Schools, where she provides professional learning for teachers throughout the district and collaborates with other central area offices on curriculum revision.  Robin has presented at the National Association for Gifted Children conference three times and served on two panels with Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska. She has presented at the Maryland Educators of Gifted Students conference eleven times, and is currently in her second three-year term serving on the Maryland State Advisory Council on Gifted and Talented Education. She has worked for the state on curriculum development and teacher training. Robin was quoted extensively in the Gifted Child Today article, “Implementing the Common Core in English Language Arts and in Mathematics: Practitioners’ Perspectives” (VanTassel-Baska & Johnsen, 2016). 

She earned both a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (Phi Beta Kappa) and Master of Arts in Teaching from the Johns Hopkins University, holds an Administrator I certificate, and received her Gifted and Talented Education certificate from NDMU. She received the Teacher as Leader in Gifted and Talented Education award from the state in 2014. She began serving as an associate professor at NDMU in 2016. 

Chantelle Jacobs has been a Reading Specialist/ Staff Development Teacher with Baltimore County Public Schools since the fall of 2023. She has been a teacher for 15 years in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools and is certified in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She has been an adjunct with NDMU since 2020 where she instructs numerous reading courses. 

Serena is a new Associate Faculty member at Notre Dame.  She also works as a Dual Language Instructional Coach and Focus Teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).  She has been in Bilingual and Dual Language Education since 1995. Additionally, she has served as a Supervisor of Undergraduate and Graduate students at American University. One of her proudest professional moments happened in 2020, when she was named Maryland Language Teacher of the Year.  Previously, she served in the Peace Corps in Suriname from 1998-2000 and in Teach for America in the Bronx, NY from 1995-1997.  Serena is a strong advocate for language instruction through a social justice lens.

Robert Lamarr worked for a title one school in BCPS for 9 years and served as STEM Coordinator, and grade level team leader for his school. He has a bachelor's degree in Middle School Math and Science Education from Stevenson Univeristy and graduated from the Leadership in Teaching: STEM program from Notre Dame of Maryland University. He now works at North Harford High School teaching integrated physics and chemistry and AP environmental science, and works as a curriculum writing consultant for the Watershed Public Charter.  

Michele is an Early Childhood educator with over 30 years of experience in public schools.  Michele joined the Notre Dame Associate Faculty in 2018 following an ongoing and fulfilling relationship with the university.  After graduating with a BS in Journalism at University of Maryland, Michele was accepted into the ACT program at Notre Dame.  She served as a Baltimore City Public Schools Teacher for 3 years before joining the Baltimore County Public Schools system. 

After receiving her MS in Special Education from Loyola, she was accepted into the Ph.D. program at Notre Dame.   Michele has served as a mentor to aspiring teachers; wrote Voluntary State Curriculum, and spent many summers teaching in FALS programs at Ridge Ruxton – Baltimore County.  An unpredicted family tragedy curtailed her dissertation completion, which came shortly after reaching her Advancement to Candidacy status. Putting her dissertation on hold and becoming the parent of an active teenager was truly an exciting, if not a challenging change.  After raising her own grown daughter and niece, she is happily living on Kent Island with her husband, Lipton, and her small Miki dog - “Bruce Lee”. When she is not making the daily commute over the Bay Bridge to her Kindergarten class in Dundalk, she enjoys riding her bike, crocheting, and writing fiction in her spare time.

Beth Snow MacMullan is a longtime classroom teacher at both The Jemicy and McDonogh Schools in Maryland with a specialty in working with individuals with learning differences, specifically dyslexia, executive functioning, and attentional disorders. Beth studied Early Childhood Education at Towson University to earn her BS and obtained a Master's in Education with a specification in Reading from Johns Hopkins University School of Education. As an associate faculty member since 2020 at the Notre Dame of Maryland University, she instructs the final course (SPE 593) in the Dyslexia Certificate Graduate program. Beth has had the privilege to teach graduate courses based on Dr. Hardiman's The Brain Targeted Teaching Model for the 21st century for several years. The areas of brain-targeted teaching research and strategies that both support and nurture all learners particularly intrigue Beth. She has the privilege of facilitating the Mind, Brain, and Teaching course at the Johns Hopkins University as part of the Master of Science in Education – International Teaching and Global Leadership Cohort. Additionally, she is a trained and certified yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation instructor. Recently, Beth founded her own company, Breathe Learn Connect Services, LLC, which serves individuals of all ages who are struggling to manage school and/or life by offering executive functioning and literacy coaching and support. Connecting with graduate students in meaningful ways, providing tangible and realistic research-based instructional strategies that can be put into practice right away, and helping NDMU graduate students who are educators manage stress are Beth's main goals as an associate faculty member at NDMU.

Dr. Cathy M. McCulley received her Doctorate in Education: Leadership in Schooling in May 2019 from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  Her dissertation studied the value of instructional coaching in elementary classrooms.  She was selected by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to be part of the Massachusetts Mathematics Frameworks Review Panel I, II, and III which helped to align the state with Common Core standards.  Cathy was the STEM Coordinator for Billerica Public Schools (2011-2019) after a career of more than 20 years as an elementary classroom teacher and mentor coordinator.  During her tenure as STEM Coordinator, she was the co-contributor to a set of district-level policy documents that supports the implementation of content coaching using defined coaching cycle protocols.  In addition, she taught a series of six professional development courses in mathematics’ pedagogical content knowledge for Billerica Public Schools as an adjunct professor through Fitchburg State University (2009-2020).

 Cathy also worked as an educational consultant for Accelerate Learning (2019-2020) where she provided implementation and pilot training for STEMscopes, an online science curriculum resource. She is currently a Title One consultant for Billerica Public Schools and an associate professor for Notre Dame of Maryland University where she teaches online courses in Education.  Further pursuits include dissertation committee work for University of Massachusetts Lowell.  

Lauren McHugh has been a Literacy Specialist with Harford County Public Schools since the fall of 2003. Before Harford County, she had previously worked as a classroom teacher in Baltimore City and Howard County. She has been an adjunct with NDMU since 2009 where she instructs numerous reading courses. She has also served as the President and other officer roles with the Harford County Literacy Association. Lauren is currently working on her dissertation research, which will focus on educators' perception and use of digital text in literacy instruction with students before the age of 9. 

Elizabeth McMahon is an Elementary Mathematics Specialist for Harford County Public Schools with 11 years of experience in education. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Middle School Mathematics Endorsement from Stevenson University and completed her Master’s Degree in Mathematics Instructional Leadership at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Her teaching experience includes 5th through 8th grade Math, Algebra and Geometry in both public and parochial school settings, in addition to serving as the K-8 Math Coordinator in her former school. In her role as Math Specialist, she works to support student growth by building teacher capacity in mathematics understanding and instruction. Elizabeth is passionate about math education and enjoys working with adult learners and young mathematicians to build their confidence and love of math. She is also a candidate pursuing National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Mathematics. 

Lauren Mealey worked for Baltimore County Public Schools for 11 years, during which time she taught both elementary and middle school grade levels. She has a bachelor's degree in early childhood and elementary education from Salisbury University and a master's degree in STEM leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has been an associate professor with NDMU since 2023, where she supervises student teaching interns and teaches various courses.

Beth Morton has been an educator for 43 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from West Virginia University (WVU) and holds two master’s degrees—one in Special Education from The Johns Hopkins University and another in Reading from Towson University. Currently, Beth serves as the Principal at Huntingtown High School in Calvert County. In addition to her leadership role, she has been teaching at Notre Dame of Maryland University for 15 years. Beth and her husband are proud parents of three phenomenal daughters and one grandson, affectionately known as Mr. Perfect.

Sharon Oliver-Whitehurst is the Division of Academic Affairs Divisional Budget Officer in the Office of the Provost at Morgan State University (MSU). She has 20+ years of experience in higher education. Her knowledge of budget and finance is extensive, where she manages a state operating budget of over $115M and over $35M in research funding. Before coming to MSU, she worked for Ernst & Young, LLC, where she audited the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Karen Pompey is an experienced educator with over 15 years of teaching experience in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Ms. Pompey holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in Teaching from Bowie State University. She has also earned graduate certifications in arts integration from Towson University and administrator certification from McDaniel College. 

For the past 11 years, Ms. Pompey has served as the Special Education Department Chair at the secondary level, demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to student success. Ms. Pompey holds multiple MSDE certifications, including Special Education Birth - 21, Secondary Social Studies, Secondary English, Middle School Language Arts, and Administrator 1 certification. Additionally, Ms. Pompey has completed 60 graduate credits in the field of special education, demonstrating her commitment to continuing education and professional development.

With a strong commitment to inclusive education, Special Education compliance, and a passion for fostering academic growth, Ms. Pompey continues to make a significant impact in the field of education and in the lives of our exceptional students. 

Tara Recor is a highly experienced educator, currently serving as a Maryland Certified Gifted and Talented Specialist with Harford County Public Schools. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Ms. Recor began her career in education in 1996 and transitioned to focus on gifted and talented education in 2009. In addition to her role as a GT resource teacher, Tara Recor is actively involved in various leadership roles within the gifted education community. She serves on her district's GT Citizens Advisory Committee, where she advocates for the needs of gifted students and supports the implementation of effective programming. Furthermore, Ms. Recor is a valuable member of the Maryland State Superintendent's Gifted and Talented Advisory Council, where she contributes her expertise to shaping policies and practices that benefit gifted learners statewide. Ms. Recor's passion for gifted education extends beyond the classroom, as she also shares her knowledge and expertise with other educators

Dr. Cara Schrack has been an associate faculty member since 2019. She is also a full-time employee of AARP Foundation Experience Corps in January of 2021 as Director of Education and Evaluation.  Prior to this work, she spent 16 years with Children’s U.S. Programs as Director of School-Age programs, which included the opportunity to support international teacher training and responding to domestic emergencies.  Directly before joining Save the Children, she was a reading staff developer in a Title I elementary school in Maryland.  As Director of Education and Evaluation, Cara is using her expertise in reading and literacy to help raise student achievement targeted at underserved children across the country.   She has presented at multiple national conferences including her research at the American Education Research Association conference.  Besides teaching at Notre Dame of Maryland University, she has also taught graduate courses at Johns Hopkins University. Cara holds a PhD in Educational Leadership at Notre Dame of Maryland University focusing on reading intervention to combat summer learning loss. 

Andrea Seurkamp earned a BA in Psychology from Providence College, an MS in Community Counseling, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Counseling from the State University of NY at Albany.  She began her teaching career at the Kildonan School, which served students with dyslexia in upstate NY.  She moved to MD in August of 2000 to begin teaching at Jemicy School in Owings Mills, MD.  She served as a school counselor and language skills teacher for 8 years and then went on maternity leave until her son went to kindergarten, at which time she returned to Jemicy.  She has been teaching lower and middle school students and became chair of the Language Skills Department in 2022.  She has been teaching Foundations in Literacy II since the summer of 2020.

Kathleen Sipes has spent a life- time in education!  She has taught at Notre Dame of MD University since 2015 and has served as both the academic advisor for all undergraduate students in the School of Education as well as the Director of Supervisors for those who do supervision during the internship semester.  Currently, she also is a consultant for Catapult Learning and serves as part of a visiting team that does assessments of Catholic schools in various Dioceses.

Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Kathy served as the President of a K-12 school for five years and prior to that as the principal of both a high school and elementary school.  She began her career as a teacher of secondary English.  In all these positions, which spanned five decades, Kathy focused on providing the best educational experiences possible for students.  Serving students continues to be her mission!

Kathy earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a Masters degrees from both Loyola University and Goucher College.

Kelly Smith is an outcomes-focused education leader with 24+ years of success as a classroom teacher and 11 years as an administrator, IEP

chair, teacher trainer, and curriculum developer. She has a solid history of reaching organizational goals, implementing strategies, leading special initiatives, incorporating curriculum, and utilizing innovative teaching methods with fresh technology.

Ms. Smith is a passionate advocate for student success, coupled with a master’s degree in administration and supervision. In 2006, she was the recipient of the Milken Educator Award for her work on literacy and assessment.  That same year, she coordinated the Cultural Exchange Program with China which engaged over 300 families in a culture exchange for approximately nine years.  Ms. Smith has been an adjunct professor with NDMU for almost a decade.  She has taught a range of literacy courses, including Teaching Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas.

Ainsley Tetreault is an academic specialist in the Advanced Learner Programs Office in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Her responsibilities include curriculum development for high-ability learners, professional development for teachers, planning and implementation support, and collaboration among other district offices. She is also the Gifted and Talented Identification District Test Coordinator.  

Ainsley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Towson University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola College. Ainsley received an Administrator I certificate from Goucher College and her Gifted and Talented Education certificate from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She became an associate professor for Gifted Education at NDMU in 2017.

The state recognized Ainsley as a Teacher Leader in Gifted and Talented Education in 2007 and 2016. After extensive work with the state in gifted education, Ainsley received the Outstanding State Leadership in Gifted Education award in 2021.

Raine Dawn Valentine has taught middle school art for 15 years at Ridgely Middle School in Baltimore County, MD. She is a member of the Turtle Mountain Tribe of Chippewa in North Dakota and is rooted in her tribe’s traditional spiritual practices. She is a Lead Teacher for the National Connected Arts Network grant program, as well as a 2022 Crayola Creativity Ambassador. Raine currently serves on the board of the following nonprofits: Historic Hampton Incorporated, NAEA Caucus on the Spiritual in Art Education, and Executive Director of Creative Balance Institute, a holistic learning center.  She holds a degree in Art Education, Psychology, and Arts Integration. 

Raine is an intuitive Spiritual teacher and creative arts director who pulls from her Native American lineage to facilitate a space for all to connect with their higher selves.  She teaches art as a powerful tool, not just for gratification of self-expression, but as a vehicle of personal and collective transformation... for both children and adults. 

Dr. Lisa Williams is a national expert on topics of equity and access in public education. She has served as Chief Equity Officer for the Fairfax County Schools as well as Executive Director for Equity and Cultural Proficiency in the Baltimore County Schools. In total, she has worked on issues of equity and access in public institutions for over 15 years.  She has provided guidance for school boards, public and private schools as well as school systems and non-profits in the areas of racial equity, gender equity in STEM, leading for equity, school transformation, and culturally responsive practices. Dr. Williams has served as a Subject Matter Expert with the United States Department of Education Department of Career, Technical, and Adult Education division related to equitable access in STEM/CTE. She serves as a board member for Restorative Response Baltimore, an organization that provides guidance and support for Restorative Practices and Community Conferences to decrease violence and create inclusive environments across the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. 

Dr. Williams has held the position of teacher, mentor, university professor, and Title I director over her career in education. She has bachelors’ degrees in biology and psychology, an MA in psychology, and a doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership with an emphasis in social policy.  She has presented at the local, state, national and international level on topics related to improving outcomes for marginalized student populations. Her most recent talk, “We Don’t Make History, We Are Made by History:  The Need to Remake Public Education” provided in September 2021 for teachers attending the University of Cologne. Her dissertation study examined Response to Intervention (RtI) and the performance of students attending Title I schools.   

  In her consultant work, (she is the founder and principal consultant at EMCS) Dr. Williams, engages with organizations to take the deep dive into transformative efforts that are both 21st century responsive and designed to dismantle systems of oppression that limit opportunity. She is an intersectional social scientist who grounds her partnership work in the lived experiences of those existing on the margins in institutions with the goal of creating a new center.  In addition to providing training and support, she has also partnered with colleagues to create two certificate programs in educational equity and cultural proficiency with McDaniel College and Notre Dame University. 

      She is co-author of two books, When Treating all the Kids the Same is the Real Problem:  Educational Leadership and the 21st Century Dilemma of Difference and Humanity Over Comfort:  How You Confront Systemic Racism Head On both published by Corwin Press.  Her most recent publication, “We don’t make history, we are made by history:  The call for education as an instrument of social justice. This historical and determinative role of schools in advancing race equity” was published in 2023 in the anthology, Zufunft Bildungschancen, in collaboration with University of Cologne.  She has worked with organizations to create training materials as well.  Dr. Williams served as a principal author in re-visioning the National Alliance for Partnership in Equity’s (NAPE) training resource, “Micromessaging to Reach and Teach All Students” through the lens of intersectional anti-racism.  Most importantly, Dr. Williams is the proud mom of a son, Andrew, who is the daily inspiration for her work for all children.

 Information about Dr. Williams and her partnership can be found at:  https://www.equityinedpartners.com/

 Dr. LaChon Winston received her Doctoral degree in Education and Leadership Policy Studies from Howard University in 2017. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary and Middle School Education from Virginia Union University and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Supervision and Administration from Trinity University. 

She is a thirty-year educator who has served students in elementary, middle, and high schools in the capacity of teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She is currently the Alternative Certification Pathways Liaison/Coordinator in Prince George’s County Public Schools which affords her an opportunity to impact teacher recruitment and retention and administer quality professional development to career-changers or recent college graduates.