CCPS Appoints Chief Operations Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Supervisor of Fine Arts, Principal of PPMS, and Assistant Principal of NHS

The Board of Education of Calvert County Public Schools approved five appointments at the meeting held on July 11, 2024.

Dr. Susan Johnson as Chief Operations Officer

Having served as a Special Education Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director, and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Susan Johnson inspires others to work on behalf of children every day. She believes that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their potential and adults must be willing to do whatever it takes, even if uncomfortable, to make that happen. Student learning and results has been the cornerstones of her career at the school and central office level, as she has implemented effective school improvement efforts, built cohesive teams, and fostered positive relationships with staff, students, and families. Dr. Johnson believes that marked results are attainable when school improvement efforts reach the classroom and change the learning experience for each student.

Dr. Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1991 and her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Maryland College. In 2012, Dr. Johnson completed her Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations from Notre Dame of Maryland University. Dr. Johnson received the 2007 Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award and was nominated several times for the MASSP Principal of the Year award.

Jackie Jacobs as Chief Academic Officer

Since 2021, Ms. Jacobs has held the position of Director of System and Instructional Performance. Prior to this role, she served in various capacities, including Supervisor of Professional Development, Digital Learning, and Teacher Induction; Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics; Vice Principal; Dean and Learning Specialist, as well as a mathematics teacher. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Education from Frostburg State University (1994) and her Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a Certificate in Administration and Supervision from McDaniel College (2004). Additionally, Ms. Jacobs has been an integral part of the Negotiations Team and served as the Lead Negotiator for the Calvert Association of Supervisors and Administrators for six years.

Kelly Cleland as Principal of Plum Point Middle School

Ms. Cleland has been an educational leader in Calvert County Public Schools since August 1991. Currently, she holds the position of Support and Improvement Specialist in the Department of Instruction, which is a grant-funded position. Previously, she served as Principal of Windy Hill Elementary School for eight years. Her diverse roles also include Assistant Principal positions in both Elementary and Middle Schools, Supervisor of Intermediate Reading Language Arts, Student Learning Specialist, and teaching students in kindergarten through third grade. Notably, Ms. Cleland was Calvert’s nominee for Washington Post Principal of the Year in 2020.

Bryan Welker as Supervisor of Fine Arts

Since 2019, Mr. Welker currently holds the position of Director of Bands and School Improvement Chair at Howard High School. Before that, he served as Music Department Chair, Instrumental Music Director, and Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher. Mr. Welker earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from West Virginia University and his Master of Leadership in Teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Erin Mathers as Assistant Principal of Northern High School

Ms. Mathers began her teaching journey in Calvert County in 2017 as an English Teacher at Northern High School. Prior to that, she taught at Chopticon High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree from Robert Morris University and a Master of Arts in Management from Notre Dame of Maryland University. During the 2023-24 school year, Ms. Mathers served as an Administrative Intern at Northern High School.