Cecilia Roe is the Director of Instructional Assessment, Professional Learning, and English Language Arts at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Cecilia’s responsibilities with MSDE include oversight of several federal grants, including Title II and the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grants. She has also served as a grant manager for three projects under the State Longitudinal Data Systems Program, as well as three Maryland Race to the Top projects. Among other duties, Cecilia directs coordination and implementation of Maryland state-wide professional learning initiatives, instructional assessment, and Maryland Graduation requirements, including College Readiness and the Maryland Bridge Plan for Academic Validation. Cecilia joined the MSDE family after 34 years with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). In addition, Cecilia served for eight years as an adjunct instructor for Graduate Programs in the Education Division of Goucher College.
Heather Sauers is the Coordinator of Professional Learning and Title IIA with the Maryland State Department of Education. Sauers began her career in education as an English/language arts teacher and later served as a Staff Development Specialist for the Baltimore County Public School system. Today, she spearheads the State’s work with instructional assessment and high quality professional learning. She also oversees the State’s Title IIA program. Sauers is a member of The Council of Chief State School Officers and serves on two of their state collaboratives: Assessment and Student Standards for Formative Assessment and the Teaching, Leading, & Learning Collaborative. She is also a member of the CEASOM executive board. Sauers earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University and her master’s degree in Training & Development from Amberton University.
Dan Capozzi is a specialist in the MSDE Division of Curriculum, Instructional Improvement, and Professional Learning. He has worked in Baltimore County as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and manager of the Office of Staff Relations, and in Talbot County as an assistant superintendent for support services. Dan came to MSDE in 2012 to work on a project that created an online application for teacher resources for professional learning under Race to the Top, and became a member of the Professional Learning team at the conclusion of his project. His responsibilities include Title II, Part A, teacher induction, professional learning, and grant management.
Jennifer Wojcik is an Instructional Assessment Specialist in the Office of Professional Learning at the Maryland State Department of Education. In her current role, Jennifer leads and supports the development, communication, and implementation of instructional assessment initiatives and programs across Maryland. She is a member of The Council of Chief State Schools and serves on two of their state collaboratives: Systems for Elevating Excellent Teaching and Formative Assessment for Students and Teachers. Jennifer began her career as an English/language arts teacher and later served as an English/language arts department chairperson and an instructional coach for Baltimore County Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Campbell University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Towson University.
Judy Kowarsky is a specialist in the MSDE Division of Curriculum, Instructional Improvement, and Professional Learning. She has worked as a researcher and an administrator in a variety of settings, ranging from the division of student affairs at the University of California to the Mental Health Association of Maryland. Judy was the lead MSDE researcher for the federally-funded Safe and Supportive Schools Grant, working in partnership with Johns Hopkins researchers at the School of Public Health and clinicians at Sheppard Pratt Health Systems to identify evidence-based best practices for attending to student mental health concerns, minimizing youth violence and creating a positive, safe and engaging learning environment. She is currently leading the MSDE CSM Curricular Support Materials (CSM) Collaborative, which is designed to facilitate district decision-making for the acquisition of high-quality, evidence-based curricular materials that are aligned to the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards.
