ROCK HALL — Kent County Public Schools added four doctors to the house this spring when four staff members based at Kent County High School earned their doctorates: Cheryl Bachmann, who teaches history; Jessica Clough, who teaches the Teacher Academy of Maryland program and math; school counselor Devon Jenkins; and Caren Saunders, who teaches English for speakers of other languages, commonly referred to as ESOL.
All four were recognized at the Kent County Board of Education meeting on Monday, May 12.
As he called the honorees to the front of the room, Director of Human Resources Dan Hushion noted that they had put a tremendous amount of time and effort into achieving this advanced degree in just about three years.
“They are demonstrated leaders in our school system,” Hushion said. “They all have taken on various leadership roles in their time here, specifically at Kent County High School.”
About three years ago KCPS engaged in a partnership with Bowie State University to form a doctoral cohort, where employees were grouped and “put on a track to engage in meaningful work, related to their areas of expertise,” Hushion told the school board.
Staff received financial support made available by a state grant program, the Maryland Leads Initiative.
This spring, Bachmann, Clough, Jenkins and Saunders completed their work and successfully defended their dissertations to earn their doctoral degrees.
The next objective is to become National Board Certified Teachers.
They will be the first set of KCPS staff who hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and a doctoral degree, according to Hushion.
