Erica Richardson is a Social Sciences teacher at Joppatowne High School. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Secondary Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College between 1994 and 2000. She is a Department Chair, senior class advisor, and Coordinator of the Homeland Security Program. Mrs. Richardson is a member of the School Performance and Achievement (SPA) Team, Safety and Security Committee and a board member of the Middle States Council for Social Studies. She coaches three athletic seasons and created a committee to support teachers. Mrs. Richardson is also a Harford County Public Schools instructor for Education that is Multicultural and Care and Prevention.

Jennifer Knapp is in her 19th year with Harford County Public Schools and is currently a first-grade teacher at Red Pump Elementary. She has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University and a master’s degree in Reading from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Mrs. Knapp is a member of her school’s instructional leadership team, a mentor to prospective new teachers, and has been a model classroom for first year educators. A former Harford County Public Schools student herself, she has devoted her career to fostering family engagement and creating an inclusive classroom climate that allows students to thrive.

Jennifer Selke is a proud 15-year veteran teacher who currently serves as the Reading Specialist at Emmorton Elementary School. She aspires to create confident, life-long readers who spark their own curiosity about learning. Mrs. Selke earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, in 2003 from Salisbury University, a master’s degree in Reading Leadership from Towson University in 2015, and is pursuing her master’s plus 60, focusing on diverse learners in literacy instruction. Mrs. Selke has participated in curriculum development, mentoring and coaching educators, and providing professional advancement opportunities. She is an integral part of leadership teams, where she advocates for all staff and students.

Mrs. Jill Truszkowski has been an educator for 23 years. She currently teaches Spanish at her alma mater, C. Milton Wright High School. Mrs. Truszkowski previously taught at Joppatowne High School and Escuela Sierra Nevada in Mexico City. At West Virginia University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages and a master’s degree in Secondary Education. She recently completed her master’s plus 60 in Social Emotional Learning and is passionate about creating an inclusive educational environment for her students. Mrs. Truszkowski is also dedicated to her school community as advisor to the Student Government Association (SGA) and Spanish National Honor Society.

Verna Hiser earned a teaching degree from the College of Notre Dame in 2003, Masters in reading from Towson in 2015, and National Board Certification exceptional students, gifted and talented, in 2022. She is a Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher and member of the county SCRIPTS team. In 2023, she was selected one of 50 teachers across the country to be named an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador. She is Teacher in Charge (TIC), a member of Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), School Performance and Achievement (SPA) team, First in Math (FIM) coordinator, and chair of the gifted and talented committee. She coaches Destination Imagination through Harford Community College and is active with Abingdon Community Theater.