(Cheltenham, MD) – The woman found dead outside a youthful offender facility in Prince George’s County has been positively identified as state and county police continue to investigate her apparent murder.
The victim has been identified as Hannah E. Wheeling, 65, of the 200-block of Courtland Place, Bel Air, Md. The victim worked as a teacher of general studies at the Murphy School, a facility located outside the perimeter fence at the Cheltenham Youth Facility in the 11000-block of Frank Tippet Road, Cheltenham, Md.
At about 7:45 a.m. today, a staff member at the school found the victim’s body lying outside a door of the school building on the lower level of the two story brick building. Police were called to the scene and the victim was pronounced deceased.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, assisted by detectives from the ...Continue Reading
Angie Taddia, Havre de Grace Middle School health educator, was selected as a Blue Apple Health Education Award winner. There are only 12 recipients in the nation, and Ms. Taddia is the first middle school teacher ever from the state of Maryland!
The Blue Apple Health Education Awards is an annual program honoring schools that serve as models of excellence for others across the nation in the area of school health education programs. For more information, visit www.BlueAppleAward.org. Ms. Taddia will be formally recognized for her achievement at the December 21st Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Veteran Harford teacher one of seven to compete for state title
Kimberly A. Schmidt, social studies teacher at Havre de Grace High School, was selected as one of seven finalists in the state who will compete for the 2010 Maryland Teacher of the Year title by State Superintendent of Schools, Nancy S. Grasmick.
The finalists were selected by a panel of judges from various Maryland educational organizations representing principals, teachers, boards of education, teacher unions, students, parents and higher education. Finalists were measured against a rigorous set of national criteria that includes teaching philosophy, community involvement, knowledge of general education issues and suggestions for professional and instructional improvement. Each of the seven finalists, including Mrs. Schmidt, will participate in oral interviews with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on Saturday, September 12th.
Mrs. Schmidt is a committed educator, having been in the field for more than 18 years, graduating from the ...Continue Reading
The Bel Air High School building rose from the earth sixty years ago and it will be demolished sometime this October. The wreckage has already begun as a glorious new replacement building stands by, ready to welcome students at the start of the new school year. Hallelujah!
As the parent of a Bel Air graduate and a past president of the BAHS PTSA, I know firsthand how the community struggled to cope with the impact of a failing building. And I was one of the many people who fought to have the old building replaced. So I wasn’t planning to shed any tears when the old walls came tumbling down.
But on eve of destruction, I wondered about what happened inside that building over the years. From its state-of-the-art beginnings in 1950, through (and way past) obsolescence, the Bel Air building witnessed the ...Continue Reading
Bel Air, MD – July 28,2009 – A former teacher at C. Milton Wright High School filed suit today in Harford County Circuit Court against principal Marlene Molter. In the four-count complaint, teacher John Anker charges Molter with Negligence, Interference with Contract, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, and Defamation regarding the circumstances of his dismissal at the end of the 08-09 school year.
According to the complaint and Anker’s attorney, Lawrence P. Pinno, Jr., Molter acted in an arbitrary, capricious, and malicious manner to ensure that Anker’s non-tenured contract would not be renewed, regardless of his actual performance. “When a principal has to lie several times to her superior during an evaluation conference, that should signal exactly what her intent was,” says Pinno. “Mr. Anker approached me over a year ago with the concern that, regardless of his performance, she was going to do what she could to ensure his contract ...Continue Reading
Jonathan Stewart Dick, age 43, of Bel Air, Maryland, a physical education teacher at Fallston Middle School and high school lacrosse coach was indicted by a Harford County Grand Jury on July 28, 2009 on 18 counts involving Third Degree Sex Offense, Sodomy and Unnatural and Perverted Sex Practices involving a 14 year old male.
The offenses occurred between March 1, 2007 and April 1, 2008. Dick was previously indicted on April 14, 2009 on 6 counts ranging from Sexual Solicitation of a minor to Solicitation for the Production of Child Pornography.
The case is being investigated by the Harford County Child Advocacy Center and anyone with any information concerning this case is urged to contact the Center at 410.638.3294. Please contact Joseph Cassilly, State’s Attorney for Harford County, at 410.638.3500 for further information regarding this case.
ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 2, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the appointment of Donald R. Osman to the Harford County Board of Education.
“I am proud to appoint Donald R. Osman to the Harford County Board of Education,” said Governor O’Malley. “I am confident that Mr. Osman possesses the skill and the leadership necessary to ensure every child in Harford County receives the quality public education they deserve.”
Donald R. Osman is a Teacher Mentor at Elkton High School, Perryville High School, Perryville Middle School and Rising Sun Middle School. Prior to that, Mr. Osman was an English teacher at Havre de Grace High School where he taught for 32 years. He was also an English teacher at Havre de Grace Middle School from 1967 to 1973, and prior to that was a teacher at Oakington Elementary School. Mr. Osman is the coordinator of the ...Continue Reading
Even as they prepare to send out telephone messages to tens of thousands of residents informing them of a probable case of Swine Flu in Harford County, local emergency operations and health officials maintain they know of no link between the potentially-infected individual and the local school system.
Without stating a location or circumstance, health officials have confirmed “an adult county resident” is among four additional probable cases of Swine Flu (now known as H1N1 virus) reported by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).
Veteran HdG social studies teacher to compete for state title
Kimberly A. Schmidt, social studies teacher at Havre de Grace High School, was named the 2009-10 Harford County Public School Teacher of the Year during a surprise announcement at the Harford County Teacher of the Year Banquet on Thursday, April 23rd at the Bayou Restaurant in Havre de Grace.
Board of Education of Harford County President Patrick L. Hess along with Interim Superintendent of Schools Patricia L. Skebeck, made the announcement on Thursday evening at the banquet/program that included guests County Executive David R. Craig, Maryland State Teacher of the Year Director Darla F. Strouse, members of the Maryland delegation, the county council, as well as school administrators, educators, students, family and friends.
“All ten of our finalists including Mrs. Schmidt represent all of the exceptional teachers we have in Harford County,” ...Continue Reading
Mobilized by by a call from Harford County Education Association President Randy Cerveny, more than 100 Harford County teachers crowded the Board of Education meeting Monday night wearing red shirts reading “Respect” and “Time.”
Two of the speakers tried to address contract issues, one mentioned furloughs on Monday night, but were reminded by the Board of Education that the topic of furloughs could not be discussed.
Despite the gag-order, teachers were still able to get their point across, through their sheer presence and emotional testimony.
“I wish I didn’t have to bar tend to love teaching in Harford County,” said one local teacher, who has to work ...Continue Reading
