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.
Anna Laughlin, Vice President
Leonardtown Middle School
amlaughlin@smcps.org
I have been an active member of my professional organization for my entire 32 year career. In West Virginia, I served as a building representative, local vice president, and a member of the state legislative committee. I moved to St. Mary's County is 1988. Since coming to Maryland, I have continued to work on behalf of my colleagues. I have been a member of every EASMC standing committee at some time and served as chair for most of those committees, as well. Currently I co-chair the EASMC legislative committee and I am serving as Vice President for the 5th time. I have served on the EASMC Board of Directors during the majority of my tenure here as member at large-secondary, member at large -general, secretary and vice president.
I have been an elected delegate to the MSEA convention every year since 1989 and have been elected to attend the NEA convention 12 times in the last 22 years. I have also served on MSEA task forces and as a member of the MSEA legislative committee.
I am an outspoken, devoted advocate for teachers, often representing our members locally and in Annapolis. I firmly believe that we are doing the most important job in this country and plan to continue this work with gusto!
Mike Soly, Treasurer
Banneker Elementary School
masoly@smcps.org
Melinda Kearns, Member-at-Large, Elementary
Dynard Elementary School
mmkearns@smcps.org
I have been employed as a teacher with St. Mary's County Public Schools for ten years. I have taught first grade, fifth grade, and currently am teaching first and second graders 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.
Melissa Kiernan, Member-at-Large, General
Leonardtown High School
mnkiernan@smcps.org
After earning my Bachelors in English and Masters in Teaching and Learning at Virginia Tech, I started my career working at the Library of Congress in both the Special Materials Cataloging division and the Copyright Literary Cataloging division. I started my teaching career in April 2003 in St. Mary's County Public Schools at Leonardtown High School. I have taught eleventh and twelfth grade English during the last seven years. I have been a union member since I began in SMCPS. I have been actively involved through my work as a Building Rep, MSEA Delegate to the Maryland State Convention in Ocean City, Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee, and NEA Delegate for EASMC at the Convention in San Diego, CA, and NEA Delegate for the State of Maryland at the Convention in New Orleans, LA. Currently, I am serving as the Member-at-Large, General on the EASMC Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee.
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.
Liz Morris, Member-at-Large, Retired
I have been a member of EASMC since 1972, when I came to St. Mary's County. When I retired in 1995 I became a Life Member of EASMC, MSEA, and NEA. I taught mathematics at Great Mills High School for 24 years and after I retired I returned to GMHS 4 times for extended periods when the need of math teachers was critical. I was a building rep to EASMC for many years, served as treasurer of the organization, and participated in many local and state functions. I am a member of the St. Mary's County Retired School Personnel Association and am chair of their legislative committee. I am also a member of their Board of Directors. Before coming to Maryland I taught in Indiana where I was a member of local and state teacher associations.
I have seen many changes in education since I started teaching in 1965 but one thing has remained constant; the need for a strong professional organization to advocate for teachers.
