Board of Directors
Wanda Ruffo Twigg, EASMC President
Leonardtown High School
wtwigg@mseanea.org
I grew up in a Union household. My father was a union tire-builder and both he and my mother valued education and pushed that belief onto me. He wanted me to play guitar and sing. I'm sorry to report, I can do neither. I started my career in the mental health industry in 1981 and moved into teaching in 1989. I have been a union member since 1981. My first real activism with MSEA/TABCO came in 1992 during the "these cuts won't heal" campaign. I rode the bus from Towson to Annapolis to rally against sending the cost of our social security back to the counties. I will never forget the money that was taken from my paycheck and how long it took me to recover from that (as a single parent). Since moving to St. Mary's, my activism has increased exponentially. I've progressed from Building AR to Committee Chair to local President. I also serve on the MSEA Board of Directors and next year will be a part of the NEA Board, as well. The work is challenging and at times difficult, but I love it. I love the strategizing, planning, and organizing. My major goals are to be the best advocate for our members and thereby our students as is possible and to increase the number of active members and the leadership capacity of our local. I didn't start out looking to be a union activist, but I am so proud to be.
Dawn Pipkin, 1st Vice President
Leonardtown Middle School
dtpipkin@smcps.org
I am currently in my ninth year in SMCPS and I am currently assigned as an Instructional Resource Teacher at Leonardtown Middle School. As an EASMC Board of Director member, I serve as liaison to Leonardtown Middle, Chesapeake Charter School, and Esperanza Middle My EASMC experience includes the following: Building rep for 2 years, Secretary for 4 years, Vice President for 1 year, Membership Chair for 3 years, NEA Delegate from 06-07, and MSEA Convention Delegate for 6 years.
Thomas Galligan, Treasurer
Spring Ridge Middle School
ttgalligan@smcps.org
Originally from Long Island, N.Y., I have been with SMCPS for 23 years. All 23 years were at Spring Ridge Middle School. I am currently the Treasurer for EASMC. I am the Math teacher for STEM 7. I have been a cooperating teacher, a mentor teacher, social committee co-chair and a SMECO Middle School Mathematics Teacher of the Year.
Melinda Kearns, Member-at-Large, Elementary
I have been employed as a teacher with St. Mary's County Public Schools for ten years. I have taughtÊfirst grade, fifth grade, and currently will be teaching Kindergarten again at Dynard Elementary. I joined EASMC my first year teaching and have been a Building Rep, MSEA Delegate for the State Conference in Ocean City and currently, I am on the Board of Directors for Elementary Education. I earned my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education through Towson in the spring of 2006. I have been the local President of the Southern MD Reading Council for five years. I also serve as a Committee Chair for the State of MD International Reading Council.
Bonnie Skinner, Member-at-Large, General
I am currently a teacher for the Academy of Health Professions (formerly Allied Health) at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. I have been teaching there for four years. I am a graduate of Skagit Valley College in Washington State where I obtained a Registered Nursing degree. I am currently enrolled in an RN to MSNeD program and will graduate in Spring 2010. Prior to my current position as a teacher I worked as an Emergency Room nurse for 16 years. I have been a member of EASMC since I became a teacher in 2005 and became a building representative and member of the membership committee a year later. I am also a SkillsUSA advisor at my school. I attended and graduated from Emerging Leaders Training, was in the first Maryland State SPARKS training and helped plan the first St. Mary's County SPARKS held last year. I am planning to attend the Superintendent's Leadership Academy this summer. I still work as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and am active in the Emergency Nurses Association as well, where I serve as an EN411 representative to Steny Hoyer. I am a BLS and ACLS instructor and a member and presenter for the preceptor council at St. Mary's Hospital. Last year at the MSEA convention I served as a workshop host. I look forward to being a member of the EASMC Board of Directors and attending this year as a delegate.
Billy Breslin, Member-at-Large, Secondary
Leonardtown High School
wfbreslin@smcps.org
I am a former US Marine and Presidential Guard and received my Bachelor degree from Frostburg State University. I received my MA from Washington College in 1998 and became a Fulbright in 1999.
I teach at Leonardtown High School, am married with one daughter and I love kayaking, skiing and riding my Harley.
Harold Siskind, Member-at-Large, Retired
I was with SMCPS for 35 years, most of which were in the fourth grade. I taught at Margaret Brent Middle for 2 years, Lexington Park Elementary for 7 years, Title 1, Park Hall Elementary, Greenview Knolls Elementary and Great Mills Elementary Math Helping Teacher for 2 yearsÊand 24 yearsÊatÊTownÊCreek Elementary. I still substitute teach regularly at Town Creek. I was an active member of EASMC, MSEA and NEA for the past 30 years and now am a Lifetime member. I am the Co-President of the St. Mary's County Public Schools Retiree Association (SMCPSRA), as well.
