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WCTA Candidate Bio Information
2015 - 2016 Election
Neil Becker - Candidate - WCTA President
Clear Spring High School
Current WCTA Vice President
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WCTA Member since joining WCPS in 1993
Long-time WCTA Building Representative and Alternate Representative
Former WCTA Board of Director High School Member-at-Large
Former WCTA Secretary/Treasurer
Member of the WCTA Negotiations Committee; current chairperson
MSEA Delegate for several years
NEA Delegate in 2012 & 2013
Why Neil?
 Product of public schools grades k-12
 WCTA member since the day I joined the system.
 Vested interest in WCPS; three daughters attend WCPS schools
Work Experience:
 HS English teacher since 1993, including English 9-12, psychology, and public speaking
 Former English department chair
 Yearbook advisor for 20 years
 SIT member and former chair
 Former paid softball coach and long-time volunteer coach
 Unified Bocce coach
WCTA/MSEA/NEA Experience & Positions Held:
 Current: WCTA Vice President, 2011-present; Negotiations Chair, 2013-present
 MSEA West Coordinated Bargaining member, 2013-present
 Health Care Committee, 2013-present
 Member MSEA Political Action Committee, 2013-present
 Member MSEA Strategic Planning workgroup, current and ongoing
 Former: WCTA Secretary Treasurer, 2009-2011; Board of Directors member, 2005 -2009; Negotiations Team Member
 Sherry Koontz Memorial Crab Feed Chair
 Long-time delegate to the MSEA Annual RA (Convention)
 Two-time delegate to the NEA Annual RA (Convention); 2012 & 2013
 Attended MSEA Leadership Training activities, Summer 2014
Community Involvement:
 REACH Cold Weather Shelter Volunteer (Coordinator for St. Joseph Catholic Church host week)
 Destination Imagination volunteer
 Girl Scouts volunteer
 Regular Blood Donor, American Red Cross
Candidate Bios Continued on next page
Beckie Jo Higgins-Arey, NBCT - Candidate - WCTA President
North Hagerstown High School
Current WCTA Building Representative
Professional Experience: 20 years working for WCPS
 English teacher: 9th, 11th-12th grade North Hagerstown High School (2012-present); 8th grade,
Northern Middle School (1995-2007), Student Achievement Specialist at Washington County
Technical High School (2007-2012) and Antietam Academy (2007-2009)
Education:
 National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), English: 2005 - 2025
 Master of Arts in English, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
 Associate of Science in Business Administration, Butler County Community College, Pennsylvania
Leadership and Representation:
 WCTA member since 1995
 WCTA Building Representative: North Hagerstown High School (2013-present); Northern Middle School (2003-2007)
 WCTA Board of Directors High School Member-at-Large (2010-2013); Vice President (2007-2010); and Middle School Memberat-Large (2005-2007)
 WCTA Membership Committee member, co-chair and/or chair (2005-present)
 WCTA Negotiations Committee (2004-2005, 2006-2008, 2009-2010)
 MSEA Convention Delegate (2006, 2009-2012)
 MSEA Spring Representative Assembly Delegate (May 2006 and 2010)
 NEA Convention Delegate, Washington, D.C. (July 2012)
 Tuscarora School Board Director - elected as a School Board Director for Tuscarora School District in Mercersburg, PA. Collaborated with the Tuscarora teachers union in this campaign (Nov 2005 – April 2007)
Political Activities:
 MSEA “Keep the Promise” rally on Annapolis (2011)
 Lobby Night in Annapolis: Funding & Testing (2015); Fairness in Negotiations (2009 and 2010); Thornton Funding (2005)
 MSTA “Push for Pensions” initiative – communication campaign to legislators, organized postcard drive and MSTA speaker in
school building, spoke at Saturday public forum in South Hagerstown High auditorium (2004-2005)
 Secure and maintain Thornton (state education funding) initiative – communication with legislators, march on Annapolis
(2005); Pension Reform (2006)
 Helped organize and participated in demonstration outside WCPS Central Office in opposition of merit pay
 Organized, wrote, implemented school-wide evaluation of building administrators which led to “Culture Survey” for select
schools (2005)
Trainings/Relevant Professional Learning Experiences:
 Emerging Leaders Academy “We Are the Force”, Salisbury University (1997) - I was a 3rd year teacher and this was my first training and full exposure to MSTA.
 MSTA New Officers Advance (October 2007)
 MSEA Leadership and Organizing Development (2005 & 2006); Personal & Professional Decision Making Skills (2011)
 MSTA Negotiations Team Training (September 2005)
 Nuts and Bolts of Bargaining and Advocacy (April 2007)
 MSTA Workshop for Negotiations, Towson, MD (October 2007)
 MSEA Bargaining Training, Hagerstown (2009)
 MSEA West Collective Bargaining Trainings (2009-2011)
 Lead Association Building Representative training for membership recruitment and retention (2007-present)
 WCTA Board of Director Vision and Goal Setting (Fall 2011)
 MSEA/WCTA Membership Training (2007-2012)
 Choosing Responsible Behavior in Planning Individual Professional Development (October 2007)
 Beginning with the End in Mind (Professional Development Planning with Robbie Champion) (December 2009)
 Critical Friends Training I and II, Professional Development Coach certification (2008-2010)
 Maryland Governor Academy (Summer-Fall 2010)
 Maryland Council of Staff Development Training (March 2010)
 Professional Development 101 Series: High Quality Strategic Planning, Followup-Followup, Gathering Evaluation Evidence
(2010-2011)
 Maryland Assessment Group Conference (November 2011)
Candidate Bios Continued on next page
Jeff Farr - Candidate - High School Member-at-Large (2 year term)
Antietam Academy
Current WCTA Building Rep
 10+ year member of WCTA
 Have served as:
 Negotiations Chair/Chief Negotiator
 WCTA Board of Directors
 WCTA Building Representative
 WCTA Legislative Committee Chair
 WCTA Elections Committee
 MSEA Convention Delegate
James Knodle - Candidate - High School Member-at-Large (2 year term)
Williamsport High School
Current WCTA Building Rep
 Nine years of successful high school social studies teaching experience for WCPS - South High and
Williamsport High
 Nine years being an active member of WCTA
 Master’s Degree and Advanced Professional Certificate in Administration and Supervision
 Three years of successful WCTA Building Rep experience at Williamsport High School
 Dual certified in social studies and special education
I am dedicated to ensuring that WCTA is advocating for the best interest of and responding to the
needs of our members. Educators are professionals and need to be treated as such, and I will be a
strong, active, sincere, and vocal advocate to secure this goal.
Aline Novak - Candidate - High School Member-at-Large (2 year term)
Clear Spring High School
Current WCTA Building Rep
Clear Spring High School has been my home away from home for the past 36.7 years. During my tenure I have been a biology and
chemistry teacher for the Clear Spring community. Currently I am a member of the WCTA Board of Directors as the High School
Member-at-Large. I have successfully served in this role for several terms and take my position seriously. I attend Board of Director meetings on a monthly basis, as well as the Rep Council meetings. Also, I am the chair of the WCTA Scholarship Committee and
have held this position for many years, both as a Board of Director member and as a WCTA member. For the past several years I
have assisted with the WCTA crab feed “set up” and “clean up” crew. As a member of WCTA I have acted as a Building Representative for Clear Spring High School. I have a desire to assist in making WCTA a strong professional organization and continue to serve
the members of WCTA as the Board of Directors’ High School Member-at-Large. I would like to thank all of you for your past and
continued support and hope I can count on your vote.
Candidate Bios Continued on next page
Jessica Barthman - Candidate - Elementary School Member-at-Large (2 year term)
Eastern Elementary School
Current WCTA Building Rep
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WCTA member since 2009
Building Representative since 2011
Membership Committee Member since 2010
Membership Committee Co-Chair since 2013
Organizing Grant participant since Fall 2013
Diane Mentzer - Candidate - Elementary School Member-at-Large (2 year term)
Bester Elementary School
Current WCTA Board of Director Elementary Member-at-Large & Building Rep
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Elementary Library Media Specialist, 32 years
National Board Certified Teacher in Library Media
WCTA Elementary Member-at-Large 8 years & current
WCTA Webmaster and Facebook® Administrator
Attended MSEA/NEA trainings in Leadership, Communication and Recruitment
Have served on various WCTA Committees, including Negotiations, Calendar, Teacher Evaluation, PLG, New Teacher Academy
and Membership
 WCTA Building Representative for over 10 years
 SIT Member for over 20 years
Candidates - NEA Convention Delegate
Neil Becker -
Dr. Janie Mora -
Clear Spring High School
See bio under President.
Jerome M. Edwards Williamsport High School
No bio submitted.
Beckie Higgins-Arey North Hagerstown High School
See bio under President
Williamsport High School
Current WCTA Building Rep
I am an active member of the WCTA and have been since the day I was hired to
work in Washington County. I actively advocate for the staff at my work place
and believe in sharing the message of the Association. I believe we are strongest when we stand united. I am currently the WCTA Building Rep for my school
and work like to continue to represent not only my school, but all WCTA.
Robin Spickler Ruth Ann Monroe Primary School
Current Board of Director Elementary Member-at-Large and Building Rep
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30+ years of teaching in Washington County
25+ years as a WCTA Building Rep
8 years as a WCTA Board of Director Elementary Member-at-Large
8 years as a member of the WCTA Negotiations Team
Attended MSEA Convention for 20+ years
Attended NEA Convention for 3 years
Two years on the WCTA Scholarship Committee
Attended many Lobby Nights for Education in Annapolis
Volunteered and helped at the New Teacher Academy for many years
Attended many Legislative Breakfast gatherings
Candidate Bios Continued on next page
Candidates - MSEA Convention Delegate
Jeremy Bair -
Kim Baker -
North Hagerstown High School
E. Russell Hicks Middle School
 Current Alternate WCTA Building Rep
 MSEA Convention Delegate 2008
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Neil Becker Clear Spring High School
See bio under President
Taught in Washington County 28 years
WCTA member 28 years
Served as MSEA Delegate 26 years
WCTA Building Rep 3 years
Sharon Chirgott Career Technology Education and Student Service Learning Resource Teacher
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B.S. biology, 1971, Frostburg State College; M.S. science, 1975, Morgan State College
Science teacher/Department Chair - Northern Middle School - 1980-1997
Member of NEA, MSTA and local since 1971
Building Representative 7 years; Central Office/Center for Education Service Association Representative 2001-present
Teacher of the Year Finalist, 1994
WCTA Offices Held:
 President 1997-2001
 Vice President 1995-1997
 Corresponding Secretary 1993-1995
 Recording Secretary 1992-1993
 Member-at-Large 1991-1992
Service to the state Association:
 Chair, Fund for Children and Public Education Steering Committee, 2001-2012
 Member, Fund for Children and Public Education Steering Committee, 1997-2001; 2012-present
 Trustee, Crisis Fund, 1999-2011
 Delegate MSEA Convention 20+ years
 Delegate NEA Convention 1997-2000, 2002-2009
Successfully implemented and expanded NEA Read Across America from its inception in 1998 through 2001
Organized coalition of labor unions for continuous political activism, December, 1997; ongoing to 2001
Service to the Community:
 Assistant Mayor, Town of Funkstown 2010-present
 Council Member, Town of Funkstown, 1986 to 2010
 Vice President, Washington County Chapter, Maryland Municipal League
 Member, Women in Government Service (WINGS), 2011-present
 Secretary, Character Counts! Coalition of Washington County, MD
 President, Board of Directors, Children in Need, 2012-2014
 Secretary, Women at the Table, (a group that encourages women to seek positions on boards and commissions or elected office and provides supports to them), current
 Member, Board of Director, Washington County Teachers Federal Credit Union, 2012-present
 Former member, Washington County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (over 10 years)
 Former Girl Scout leader
 Former active Boy Scout parent support with Troop 2 and Explorer Post 2
Honors:
 Women at the Table Lifetime of Leadership Award, 2007
 Inducted into the Maryland Municipal League Hall of Fame, 2014
Candidate Bios Continued on next page
Candidates - MSEA Convention Delegate (Continued)
Jerome Edwards -
Kathy Kaper-Dick Washington County Technical High School
No bio submitted
Williamsport High School
No bio submitted
Jeff Farr -
Tonya Meadows Boonsboro Middle School
No bio submitted
Antietam Academy
See bio under High School Member-at-Large
Denise Fry -
Dr. Janie Mora Williamsport High School
See bio under NEA Convention Delegate
WCTA President
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32 year Association member
Past WCTA Vice President
Past WCTA Secretary/Treasurer
Past WCTA Board of Director Middle School Member-at-Large
Past WCTA Negotiations Chair
Past WCTA Elections Chair
Beckie Higgins-Arey
North Hagerstown High School
See bio under President
Robin Spickler Ruth Ann Monroe Primary School
See bio under NEA Convention Delegate
Helen Tasker Washington County Technical High School
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I have been a part of the state-wide SLO cadre
MSEA Convention Delegate 2008 & 2012
WCTA Building Rep several years
I am an English teacher at Tech High and continue to work
on behalf of teachers to ensure that our voice is heard!