Three distinguished educators join HCPS Hall of Fame during fall 2016 induction

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Doris G. Carey

Doris G. Carey was born in Buckingham County, Virginia and graduated from Carter G. Woodson High School. Mrs. Carey earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1963 from St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.

In 1972, Mrs. Carey relocated to Harford County when her Army officer husband was assigned to the Military Science Department at Morgan State University. She continued her studies in education and earned a Master of Science in Education in 1975 from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She completed 30 hours beyond her master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Loyola College.

Mrs. Carey was the first in her family to go to college. Although she attended segregated schools, she had great teachers who encouraged her to do something special with her life. Her teachers and principals served as role models and inspired her to become a teacher.

Beginning in 1975, Mrs. Carey devoted nearly 27 years of service to Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). During that time, she taught elementary and middle school for 13 years; then became the supervisor of Federal Programs and served in that position for 14 years. (From 1978 to 1980 she accompanied her husband on his military assignment to Germany where she taught elementary school in the Department of Defense Schools system.)

She was passionate about being the best teacher she could be and sharing her knowledge with fellow educators. During her career, some of the major projects and initiatives she was involved in included:

The Heritage Club, which addressed the special needs of minority students by enriching their academic performance, broadening their cultural awareness, and enhancing their self esteem.She, along with fellow educators, received a first place Division II award from HCPS.
In collaboration with Language Arts, she and her Title I team put together a program called Reading Achievement (REACH).This program worked with non-readers and helped them become grade-level readers in a relatively short time.
A Home Visitor Program that was designed to teach parents skills that would help them prepare their pre-school students to start school ready to learn.
She received the Excellence in Minority Achievement, as well as a Salute to Excellence Citation, from the Maryland State Department of Education - Program Improvement and Family Support Branch.
As a member of the Xi Delta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she and fellow members designed a youth enrichment seminar called “Project Yes” to help African American youths develop an understanding of the world of work and learn skills necessary for academic success.
Xi Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. named an education scholarship in Ms. Carey’s honor for Harford and Cecil County students.
She was honored for 25 years of service with the Hosanna Community House, Inc. Museum (the first public school for African Americans in Harford County established by the Freedmen’s Bureau.)
She received the education award from the Harford County Branch, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

She believes that many of the projects, such as the REACH Program, The Home Visitor Program and The Heritage Club, were among her best accomplishments. However, she is most proud of seeing and hearing about the success of her former students. And, she feels so proud seeing parents of those students and the students themselves acknowledge how much they appreciated the work she did with them.

In 2004, Mrs. Carey retired from HCPS after 26.9 years of service to have more time for other things she enjoyed, such as traveling, reading, shopping and spending time with family and friends. Some of her current hobbies include exercising, reading and cooking.

Mrs. Carey has been married to LTC (USA-Ret) Richard A. Carey for more than 50 years. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.

Yolanda Waldon Presberry

Yolanda Waldon Presberry was raised in Havre de Grace. She attended college at University of College Park, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Art Education.

Mrs. Presberry’s grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins, all educators and administrators, greatly influenced her to become a teacher. She was hired as an art teacher at Havre de Grace Middle School in 1977, and remained teaching there for her entire career. She never had the desire to leave her school community.

Mrs. Presberry enjoyed teaching every day and loved watching her students become creative and learn new art techniques. Mrs. Presberry was passionate about introducing students to Art History, artists and their styles. Each quarter, she took students to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, where they could see art work from around the world.

Some of Mrs. Presberry’s major projects during her tenure with Harford County Public Schools were getting her students to participate in the countywide art show each year and getting them involved in an art display within the school system. For example, a group of her former students have a mural hung at the Harford Glen campsite.

In addition, she spearheaded many community initiatives, such as making Thanksgiving and Christmas cards for delivery to the local nursing homes and designing posters for the American Legions in Havre de Grace, bumper stickers for the local police departments, and banners for the Havre de Grace Middle School marching band. One of her biggest challenges annually was decorating the entire school for the Decoy Show every May. Her students loved it!

She consistently strived to have a positive impact on her students beyond the walls of her classroom. Mrs. Presberry utilized her artistic abilities to visually enhance the school building and assist her co-workers with classroom murals and seasonal decorations throughout the entire building. She built a rapport with students that over the years would spread to generations of students from the same family. Her role at Havre de Grace Middle also extended beyond the traditional school year, with positions held during the weeks of summer school. Mrs. Presberry worked to set the example for students to follow. Even into her retirement years, she still works with students, hoping to instill in them behaviors and values that will carry them into a successful adulthood.

Her biggest reward as an educator was seeing so many of her former students become successful adults with careers and an understanding and appreciation for fine arts! Several of her former students have shared that they have been to Europe and all over the world to see art she introduced during her years of instruction.

Mrs. Presberry was the recipient of many accolades throughout her career, including being named a finalist for Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2005. She received honors from the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the American Legion of Havre De Grace and Harford County Parks and Recreation.

In 2010, Mrs. Presberry retired from teaching art at Havre de Grace Middle School. Her current hobbies include painting, drawing, photography, gardening, exercising and event planning. In addition, she has illustrated three books and is presently working on another one.

Her husband, son, and the Waldon and Presberry families, as well as the Havre de Grace community are her family, encouraging and trusting her to give it her all.

Rachael R. Reid, PhD

Rachael Reid was born in Jackson, Michigan, where she attended school until graduation. At Jackson High School, she was the editor-in-chief of the school’s bi-weekly newspaper, The Reflector, and had early career aspirations of becoming a journalist. She attended college at Michigan State University, where she majored in Journalism from 1953 until May 1955.

In 1955, she moved with her husband to Harford County when he was drafted into the US Army and transferred Aberdeen Proving Ground. After eight years as a stay-at-home mom, Dr. Reid returned to college in 1966 at Towson State University. At that time, Harford County was experiencing a serious teacher shortage and paid her tuition. Dr. Reid was assisting her daughter’s first grade teacher on a frequent volunteer basis at Wakefield Elementary School. The teacher recommended her to the director of personnel as a teacher candidate.

Dr. Reid participated in a class following by a one-week workshop held at Churchville Elementary School to learn “the Harford County expectations,” as a special group of 10 prospective teachers.
When school started that fall, she was assigned to teach fifth grade at Jarrettsville Elementary, and she taught there for five years. When she transferred to teach closer to her home in Bel Air, she had earned her bachelor’s degree from Towson State University.

Teaching was a natural fit for Dr. Reid, and was a tradition in her family. Both of her grandmothers taught in one-room school houses and Dr. Reid often enjoyed playing school with them when she was young. Her sister worked as an elementary teacher for 30 years within Jackson, Michigan schools. Dr. Reid’s quest for learning was enforced by the many wonderful teachers throughout her education in the Jackson schools.

Dr. Reid’s career with HCPS took her from Jarrettsville Elementary (1966-1972), to Homestead Elementary (1972-1975) and to William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary (1975-1977) as a classroom teacher. Then she became a special education helping teacher (1977-1982) before being promoted to associate principal (1982-1986), an elementary supervisor (1986-1991), and finally principal of Deerfield Elementary (1991-1999).

She enjoyed seeing children excited about learning. As an administrator, she loved seeing the progress of many amazing young teachers. She was always passionate about the importance of a quality education for all learners.

Dr. Reid worked diligently throughout her career, wanting the best for each student, teacher, and parent. She was highly involved in the Co-Next project while serving as principal at Deerfield Elementary School. She believed that project significantly improved learning at all the schools that participated in that project. She was also engaged in the implementation of the school-wide enrichment model and was a huge supporter of inclusive education. Another great honor for her was to lead a team of two teachers and herself to make a presentation at the National Conference of Elementary Principals in San Antonio, Texas in 1993.

Dr. Reid is grateful for the opportunity to have varied experiences in a wide variety of schools throughout her career in education. As the helping teacher in special education, she worked in all HCPS schools and at all grade levels. That was a tremendous opportunity for her—and very challenging work. She learned extensively from her supervisor during that time, the late Mrs. Gertrude B. Rich, who greatly influenced her time with HCPS.

Dr. Reid retired in September 1999 to have time available for extensive travel. She also wanted to teach graduate courses at the College of Notre Dame, which she did for six years. Her other post-retirement assignments included teaching Introduction to Elementary Education and Introduction to Special Education at Harford Community College. She also taught for the HCPS as a Home/Hospital teacher for six years following her retirement, which was an emotionally rewarding experience for her.

In April 2012, Dr. Reid was honored to be selected by the Harford County Council as a “Living Treasure of Harford County.”

Her current hobbies include chairing the scholarship program at the Glen Meadows Retirement Community, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She and her husband have two children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

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