Donald R. Osman was born and raised in Kennedy Township, a part of McKees Rocks, PA, a city located just outside of Pittsburgh. He attended the College of Steubenville where, in 1965, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. In 1972, he furthered his education by earning his Masters of Education in Reading from Loyola College.

Mr. Osman always knew he wanted to be a teacher. He was influenced by the outstanding teachers he had throughout his school years, especially Mrs. Leydig in second grade, Mrs. Acklin in fifth grade, Mrs. Christiansen in eighth grade and Mr. Cook in eleventh grade. Mr. Osman is the only one of nine children in his family to earn a college degree. During his senior year at the College of Steubenville, he met with recruiters from Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). After visiting the area, he was impressed with the rural areas and the friendliness of the small towns. It was reminiscent of his hometown, and he and four other members of his graduating class signed contracts and relocated to Harford County.

Mr. Osman devoted 40 outstanding years of selfless dedication to students, faculty, staff and the community of HCPS. He taught at Oakington Elementary School (now Roye-Williams Elementary) from 1965 to 1967, Havre de Grace Middle School from 1967 to 1973 and Havre de Grace High School from 1973 to 2005. In addition to teaching, Mr. Osman coached junior varsity wrestling and softball and served as assistant coach of the varsity wrestling team. Mr. Osman founded and sponsored S.M.I.L.E.S. (Service Makes an Individual’s Life Extra Special) and coordinated the CARE-PAIR-SHARE Mentoring Program. He also served as advisor of the sophomore class and junior class, intramural director, drama productions coordinator and was a member of the school improvement team and faculty advisor committee......."   Full Article and Photo Gallery

Donna E. Lewis was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Hampton University where, in 1976, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Early Education. In her senior year of college, HCPS personnel visited her college campus and recruited her to teach at Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). In 1981, she furthered her education by earning her Master of Science as a Reading Specialist from Morgan State University. In addition, she earned her Master of Arts in Instructional Systems Development from the University of Maryland.

Prior to college, Ms. Lewis was undecided about a career. Then, the summer before she began college she worked at a day care facility and truly enjoyed the job and working with children. Her mother suggested she major in early childhood education, and the rest is history! Ms. Lewis devoted 32 outstanding years of selfless dedication to students, faculty, staff and the community of HCPS. She taught at Havre de Grace Elementary School from 1976 to 1977, Oakington (now Roye Williams) Elementary School from 1977 to 1985 and Aberdeen High School from 1985 to 1989. She was an English Language Learner (ELL) helping teacher for grades K-12 from 1989 to 1998 and was assistant principal at Edgewood Elementary from 1998 to 2006 and at Forest Lakes Elementary from 2006 to 2008.

As a teacher, Ms. Lewis enjoyed captivating young minds and witnessing the light bulb go off when her students “got it.” Working with the ELL students and their families was one of the most rewarding positions Ms. Lewis had. The students in that program wanted to learn to understand, speak, read and write English more than anything else, and the high respect given by their parents to educators was refreshing. Ms. Lewis also loved the diversity of her various roles as a teacher and that kept her excited about learning and teaching. During her career, she worked with children in pre-kindergarten all the way through high school. In addition, she had the opportunity to work with school nurses, secretaries, school counselors, other teachers and administrators and parents. She recalls, “never a dull moment!”......"   Full Article and Photo Gallery

Deborah J. Heiberger, Ed.D. was born and raised in Harford County, Maryland. She graduated from Towson University in 1971 with a Bachelor in Science in Elementary Education. Following her graduation, she taught in southern Maryland for two years before returning to Harford County to teach in her home school system. She furthered her education by earning her Master of Education in Administration/Supervision from the University of Maryland in 1975, and in 1986 she received her Doctorate of Education. In addition, she completed 36 additional credits in curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Several factors influenced Ms. Heiberger to enter the field of teaching. She experienced outstanding teachers and school administrators while attending Aberdeen Elementary, Bakerfield Elementary, Aberdeen Junior High and Aberdeen High schools as a young student. In addition, during her teenage years, she had the opportunity to work as a camp counselor for both her church and scouts group and to teach primary grades in Sunday school at Grove Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen. Her parents were supportive of that career path for her, as her mother taught Sunday school at their church and her father taught mathematics during the evenings for military personnel on Aberdeen Proving Grounds for fifteen years in addition to his full-time career as a research chemist.

Ms. Heiberger devoted 28 outstanding years of selfless dedication to students, faculty, staff and the community of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). She taught at Youth’s Benefit Elementary School before taking on the roles of assistant principal at Edgewood, William Paca/Old Post Road, Hall’s Cross Roads, North Harford, Forest Hill and Youth’s Benefit elementary schools. Then, she served as principal of Jarrettsville Elementary School before making the move from the school building to central office as supervisor of curriculum. She was quickly promoted to executive director for curriculum and instruction and then to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She remained in that capacity until her retirement from HCPS in 2002......"   Full Article and Photo Gallery

Maudeline A. Banks was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She graduated high school in 1938 and went on to attend Virginia State College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in home economics in 1942. “The only thing I could do was teach,” reflected Ms. Banks. “The opportunities for jobs for black people were always limited. So I knew I could obtain employment as a teacher in a segregated school.”

Ms. Banks began her teaching career immediately following graduation, and she taught for two years before taking advantage of a government-sponsored program to gain her master’s degree from Columbia University in Pennsylvania. She returned to teaching after earning her master’s, teaching in Texas and West Virginia before meeting her husband and relocating to Harford County in 1948.

Ms. Banks taught at Bel Air Colored School, later named Central Consolidated and now known as Hickory Elementary School. She also taught at the Havre de Grace Consolidated School, now known as Roye-Williams Elementary School. Later, when desegregation came to Harford County, Ms. Banks taught at Bel Air High School. Ms. Banks retired from Southampton Middle School in 1979....."   Full Article and Photo Gallery

Dr. Jacqueline C. Haas was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, and moved to the Newark, Delaware area, graduating from high school there before enrolling at the University of Delaware, where she earned a degree in special education. She began her career as an educator in Delaware, working with students with severe and profound disabilities before coming to Harford County to teach at the John Archer Special School in 1978. Later, she was named a helping teacher in special education and was subsequently appointed assistant principal at Prospect Mill Elementary School in 1990, where she served for two years before being selected as principal at Edgewood Elementary School in 1992.

In 1997 she was named Assistant Superintendent for Education Services, a position in which she had oversight responsibilities for the instructional program in the Harford County Public Schools. In 1998, she was named Interim Superintendent of the Harford Public Schools by the Board of Education of Harford County and later that year was named Superintendent, and she was appointed to subsequent four-year terms as Superintendent in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Dr. Haas, who earned her master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University and her Ed. D. from the University of Maryland, was in her eleventh year as Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools at the time of her death. Her third term as Superintendent was due to have been completed in June 2011.

Humbly accepting many honors and awards throughout her 10-year tenure as Superintendent, Dr. Haas was named Maryland Superintendent of the Year for the 2008 school year by the Public Schools Superintendents Association of Maryland. She also received the Judith Ruchkin Research Award for “Outstanding Dissertation” from the Maryland Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, in addition to the NAACP Outstanding Community Service Award, among others...."   Full Article and Photo Gallery

Mabel E. Hart is a product of the Harford County Public School system, where she received the foundation of her education before moving on to higher learning institutions. In 1939, she completed her teacher training at State Teachers College, in Bowie, Maryland. She credits her first grade teacher for influencing her to become a teacher. She continued her education by earning her bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University in 1965. In addition, Ms. Hart attended University of Delaware for a special program in which she received a Reading Specialist certificate upon completion.

Ms. Hart began teaching in Howard County before returning to her roots in Harford County to continue her career. She taught at Havre de Grace Consolidated School from 1945 to 1965, and she remained there when the school became Oakington Elementary, continuing to teach from 1965 to 1978, at which time she retired. Ms. Hart says what she treasured most about her job was taking care of the children and providing them the best possible education she could.

“Ms. Hart was firm yet diligent in ensuring I gave my very best each day,” said former student of Havre de Grace Consolidated School Lenora E. Robinson. “As she nurtured me, I soon became a confident and conscientious student who maintained my grades and remained on the Honor Roll for years to come.”..."   Full Article and Photo Gallery

Janet (Pomilla) Inners was born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 1965. She continued her education at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, where, in 1969, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Mrs. Inners was influenced to enter the field of education by the positive academic and extracurricular programs that she experienced as a student. Immediately following college graduation, she began her teaching career at Park Junior High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. In the spring of 1970, she saw an advertisement for a job opening in Harford County and transferred to Maryland to continue her career.

During her career with Harford County Public Schools (HCPS), Mrs. Inners taught Spanish at Havre de Grace High School from 1970 to 1973, at Bel Air High School from 1976 to 1977 and at Fallston High School from 1978 to 2005. In addition, Mrs. Inners furthered her education earning her 30+ credits by completing classes through University of Tennessee, Towson University and Loyola University and participating in Harford County workshops.

As an educator, Mrs. Inners' goal was to ensure the academic success and personal self esteem of all her students by creating a positive atmosphere in her classroom. She expected her students to be honest, to respect individual differences, to ask for help when needed and, most importantly, to understand that some days would be better than others. Mrs. Inners cherished the opportunity to interact with her students on a daily basis. Her students’ unending enthusiasm and youthful perspectives were truly inspirational for her..."    Full Article and Photo Gallery

Dwight Enterline was born at home in Manheim, Pennsylvania, in 1943, the youngest of four sons to Charles and Mary Enterline. He attended public school and graduated from Manheim Central High School in 1961. Mr. Enterline went on to further his education at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1965 with a bachelor of science in Music Education. He was the first in his immediate family to attend college, and credits his childhood piano teacher for inspiring him to pursue a career in music education. He took piano lessons with her starting at the young age of seven, and when he was nearing the end of high school, she was instrumental in influencing him to apply to Lebanon Valley College, which was a mere twenty miles from his home.

It was in college where he met his wife, Carolyn, and the two were married the summer after graduation. They both needed teaching positions, and, at the time, Harford County was offering higher salaries than the school systems in Pennsylvania and was aggressively recruiting for a number of positions. They signed contracts and relocated to Harford County to begin their teaching careers.

Mr. Enterline began teaching music at Aberdeen Jr. High School in 1965 when the school was first opened. He taught mostly eighth grade general music and directed several choruses. When Aberdeen Middle School opened its doors in 1973, Mr. Enterline transferred there and taught music for the next 12 years. During this time, he also advanced his education by earning his master’s degree from Towson University in 1974. In 1985, he transferred to Aberdeen High School as the choral director for five years. Mr. Enterline was then promoted in 1990 to Helping Teacher in Music, and remained in that capacity for 13 years until his retirement..."    Full Article and Photo Gallery

Charlsie Harkins Brooks was born in Annapolis and moved to Bel Air when she was four years old when her father accepted the position of Principal of Bel Air High School. She grew up in Bel Air and graduated from Bel Air High School. In 1960, she graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Science. In 1968, she furthered her education by earning her Master of Science in Home Economics, Child Development/Family Life from the University of Maryland. Her research project focused on the effects father absence had on a family unit, particularly in military families. She surveyed families whose children attended Aberdeen High School and had fathers deployed to Viet Nam. In addition to her two degrees, Mrs. Brooks also earned 50 credits beyond her master’s, including the Advanced Professional Certificate.

Mrs. Brooks was no stranger to the education field, as her father was an administrator and supervisor with Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). In addition, her mother taught elementary school for HCPS for 18 years and was always an inspiration to Mrs. Brooks. However, it wasn’t until a stint of student teaching that her passion for teaching came to the surface. Mrs. Brooks was very active in 4-H as a teenager, and she intended to become a Home Demonstration Agent, continuing her work with the 4-H program. While earning her undergraduate degree in Home Economics Education, she student taught and loved it. She returned to Harford County to teach Family and Consumer Science, formerly Home Economics.

Mrs. Brooks taught at Aberdeen High (1960-63, 1967-69), Havre de Grace High (1977-80), Bel Air High (1980-83) and C. Milton Wright High (1983-2000) schools during her career with Harford County Public Schools. She was passionate about the value of home economics and the importance of the practical concepts that were taught in that course. She enjoyed working with teenagers and felt fortunate to have a start and finish to each school year, giving her the chance to accomplish set tasks. In addition, Mrs. Brooks really liked working with students in extracurricular activities, such as the senior class and school proms. Throughout the years, she attended a total of 29 proms!...."    Full Article and Photo Gallery

Charles E. Harkins was born and raised in Harford County and graduated from Highland High School in 1931. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) in 1935, and went on to complete a master’s program there in 1936. His research project was focused in the zoology field and involved banding and tracking birds. In 1942, he earned a certificate in school administration from the University of Maryland.

Mr. Harkins was influenced to become a teacher because he graduated at the height of the depression when teaching seemed to be a secure profession. However, the importance of education was deeply-rooted in his family. Mr. Harkins’ mother, Viola Harkins, is credited with running the first school bus in Harford County. In C. Milton Wright’s book, “Our Harford Heritage,” he says that when the small, one-room school near her home closed, Mrs. Harkins drove her children and those of her neighbors to the consolidated school in the village of Highland in a horse-drawn wagon. After some time, the school Board began paying her for this service.

Mr. Harkins began his career with Harford County Public Schools in 1943 when he accepted the position of principal of Bel Air High School. Prior to that, he taught at Annapolis High School and was principal at Margaret Brent High School in St. Mary’s County. In 1950, Mr. Harkins was promoted to Assistant to the Superintendent, overseeing the Harford Glen Environmental Center, the adult education program, federal government funding and pupil personnel work in the Bel Air area...."    Full Article and Photo Gallery

A self-taught musician from the age of eight, Mr. Slattery later realized his fate was to share his passion of music with today's youth. While studying at West Chester University, he became infatuated with elementary music teaching methods and how to intertwine music with general classroom curriculum. Today, he is an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, having served in the field in Harford County for nine years, using creative tactics to integrate the music curriculum with general classroom studies on a daily basis. Mr. Slattery's math songs and raps are well-known in the Hall's Cross Roads Elementary community.

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