Woodlawn High School

Name 

Meg Deighton 

Email 

mdeighton@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

AP Literature 

College(s) Attended

Kalamazoo College - Bachelors: English, Psychology

Nova Southeastern - M.A. in Teaching and Learning: Curriculum Instruction

Notre Dame - M.A. in Leadership in Teaching: Cultural Proficiency Leadership

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan 

Bio: My name is Meg Deighton and I am the Department  I started teaching at WHS in 2006 and have fallen in love with the community, students, and staff at Woodlawn.  Over the past 15 years, I have taught English 10, 11, 12, SAT Prep, and AP Literature.  I am also the department chair for English. Also, I am co-advisor for the Freshman CLASS… I am so excited to be part of the amazing graduating class of 2025! 

When I am not binging a favorite TV show or reading (or re-reading!) a novel, you can find me cooking new, exciting recipes I have found or doing some home-improvement project.  I love watching sports (especially going to games) and am extremely competitive.  I love travelling, but find I haven’t done much lately due to working two jobs and finishing my masters degree.  I hope to start visiting more places soon.  I lived in England for a year for my undergraduate and it ignited a desire to visit as many places as possible and learn about all different cultures. 

My favorite times are spent with my family, including my parents, 2 older brothers and my sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and so many cousins, aunts, and uncles. 

Name 

Jessica Beyer 

Email 

jbeyer@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 11 

English 12 

College(s) Attended

Emory University (BA in English and Creative Writing) 

New York University (MFA in Creative Writing-Poetry) 

Hometown

Catonsville, MD 

Bio: I'm Ms. Beyer, and I’m excited to return for my second year at  Woodlawn High School. I am returning home to BCPS after teaching in higher education and working in educational product development.

I love to read and write and am a published poet. I’m obsessed with traveling and wish I could do more of it! It’s taken me to some amazing places, including the Galàpagos Islands, New Zealand, Thailand, Morocco, and Nicaragua. I even lived in Paris for six months in college. I also love to spend time outside doing everything from hiking to scuba diving to reading on park benches.

Name 

Matt Janansky 

Email 

mjanansky@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 10 (OGE) 

English 11, 12 (Co-Teaching) 

College(s) Attended

The College of New Jersey (B.A.) 

Goucher College (M.A.) 

Hometown

Pine Barrens, New Jersey

Bio: My name is Mr. Janansky, and I am in the (English/SPED Department). This is my second year at WHS.  

In my free time, I enjoy reading and listening to/making music .  I’ve been learning the ins and outs of production and using the computer as an instrument for about 10 years. 

Name

Abraham Jones, Ed.D.

Email

ajones38@bcps.org

Classes Taught

English 12, English 11

College(s) Attended

Morehouse College (B.A.)

University of Delaware (M.A.)

Delaware State University (M.A.)

Wilmington University (Ed.D.)

Hometown

Newark, Delaware

My name is Dr. Jones, and I am in the English Department. This is my second year teaching at WHS. 

I like to travel internationally, and my passion is offering my assistance to make certain people are meeting their personal goals in life.

Name 

Tiffany Martin

Email 

tmartin12@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 10 

College(s) Attended

State University New York at Plattsburgh College (BA/MST) 

Hometown

Bronx, NY  

Bio: My name is Ms. Martin and I am in the English department. This will be my second year at WHS, and I have taught outside of Baltimore in NYC in the past.  

I enjoy knitting, crocheting, watching films and reading (on a Toni Morrison journey). 

I love traveling. I went on a mini-European adventure the summer before COVID-19 and had so many plans to see other places, but unfortunately that came to a stop. But I have faith that I will be able to travel safely again.  

Name 

Dorlisa Mullen-Mitchell 

Email 

dmullenmitchell@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

Critical Reading 

English 9 

College(s) Attended

Coppin State University (BS) 

Currently:Towson State University

Hometown

Baltimore, MD 

Bio: My name is Ms. Mullen-Mitchell, and I work in the English Department at Woodlawn High School. This is my first year teaching at WHS; however, I feel like I am returning home because WHS is where I began my career substitute teaching.  Before WHS, I taught just about every subject and middle school grade level as a Paraeducator; and was a Cheer Coach, a Mentor and Co-founder of a powerful female network (GEMS) at my former school.

Interesting Facts: When I am not teaching, I enjoy exercising, shopping, and reading. Honestly, I have not been an active reader because I have been binging on Hallmark movies. I am a mother of four young adults: ages 27, 25, 23, and 22. Although I am currently enrolled in Towson State University finishing my Masters in Teaching, I consider myself a life learner where my motto is “Walk in Excellence or Not at All.”

Name 

Sharon Neverdon 

Email 

Sneverdon@bcps.org 

Classes Taught

English 9, Critical Reading 

College(s) Attended

Grand Canyon University (BS) 

Liberty University (Masters Program) 

Hometown

Queens, New York 

Bio: My name is Mrs. Neverdon This is my second year at Woodlawn High School  in the English Department. I have enjoyed educating students in a few disciplines in Baltimore City and in Baltimore County. 

I enjoy the theater, ballet, football, and basketball. Riding my bike near the water is my favorite past time.  

Coming soon on Social Media: Prolific Young Writers! (PYW!) 

Name

Shannon O’Brocki-Kreft

Email

sobrocki2@bcps.org

Classes Taught

English 12

Avid 12

College(s) Attended

Towson University ‘14 (BS)

Towson University Dec. 20’ (MS)

Hometown

Ferndale, Maryland

Bio: I started teaching at Woodlawn in the fall of 2014, so I am going into my 8th year of teaching. I am AVID Certified, the National Honor Society Advisor,and AP Coordinator at Woodlawn.

In my spare time I like to hang out with my pets, Benjen (a black cat), and Piccolo (a Parson’s Russel Terrier- we think) watching Netflix or playing Animal Crossing New Horizons. If my family would let me I would adopt so many animals people would think we had a zoo (I used to have a hedgehog)! Lately, my time has been filled with working on various home projects with the help of my mom and my husband (We’ll celebrate 10 years together and 2 year of marriage the end of September).

Name 

Michael R. O’Leary 

Email 

moleary@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 11 and Honors 

College(s) Attended

Towson University (BS) 

Loyola University  (MS) 

Hometown

Frederick, MD 

Bio: I’m Mr. Michael O’Leary and this is my 12^th year at Woodlawn High School teaching in the English Department.  I’m originally from Frederick, MD and graduated Frederick High in 2002.  In my time at Woodlawn, I’ve worked across content with many teachers to not only build singular student success, but also to expand and evolve my own pedagogy across my classes.  I’ve worked extensively with one of the oldest, student created and led clubs in Woodlawn’s Real Authentic Poetry team, which created school- wide events and involvement such as rap battles, poetry showcases, slam poetry competitions, and black history celebrations.  I’ve coached seven chess teams with all placing in the top 20 of county wide players.  I continue my work by incorporating growth mindset neuroscience, applying restorative justice practices into academic discipline/ self-discipline, and bridging literacy skills through the digital age in order to construct viable paths to student achievement now and in the future.  

I’m a person of adventure and am always ready for a hike up a mountain or a trek into an abandoned haunted house.  I’m a lover of history, politics, philosophy, the unknown, and all things literacy.  I can jump on a retro game system as easily I can master the “sticks in COD”, but I enjoy games that offer a novel experience with friends the most.  Keeping my mind and body strong is my highest priority with an unofficial life goal being to visit all 50 states by the tricentennial. 

Name 

Joe Ottomano 

Email 

jottomano@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 11 

Sat Prep: Disciplinary Literacy 

College(s) Attended

McDaniel College (BA) 

Towson University (MS)

Hometown

Manchester, MD 

Bio: My name is Mr. Ottomano and I work in the English department at Woodlawn High School where I’ve been teaching since 2012. During that time, I’ve taught across the grade levels. My hobbies include reading, writing, and playing the occasional video or tabletop game. I like to be active outside doing things such as hiking and camping, but also enjoy staying in and analyzing the plot, themes, symbols, and characters of my favorite TV shows and movies. 

Name

Kateri Pelton

Email

kpelton@bcps.org

Classes Taught

English 9 Standard

English 12 Honors

College(s) Attended

Wells College (BA) Theatre and Dance

University of London Royal Holloway (MA) Theatre Directing

Hometown

Baltimore, MD

My name is Teacher/Ms. Pelton (she/they) and I am in the English department. This is my first year at Woodlawn and my first year as a teacher! I can usually be found in a rehearsal room directing all types of live performance. This spring I will be helping to direct the musical here at Woodlawn. I also love the outdoors and can be found out on the water kayaking when its warm. My perfect afternoon would be curled up in a hammock sketching and listening to music.

Name 

Davon Rice 

Email 

drice@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 9(Standard) 

English 9(GT)
AVID 11 

College(s) Attended

Morgan State University (BA English – Creative Writing)

Morgan State University (Master of Arts in Teaching)

Currently: Morgan State University (EdD – Urban Educational Leadership) 

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland 

Bio: My name is Mr. Rice, and I am in the English department. This will be my second year teaching at Woodlawn. I am a proud Woodlawn Alumni and it really has done my heart good teaching at the high school I graduated from. I also run the Drama Club and the 100-Strong Male/Female Role Model club as well.  

I love to shop, eat and travel. I love to cook, sing, laugh and inspire others. One fun fact about me is that I am a professional gospel recording artist. Another is, I am one of twelve children. My mom and dad have been married for over 35 years and counting which is so amazing to me! I am currently pursuing my doctorate in Educational Leadership at Morgan State University. So, I will be in school taking classes virtually while teaching virtually. This should be very interesting! Students, parents and staff are welcome to follow me on Instagram @mrricescholars.  

Name 

Shae Savoy 

Email 

ssavoy@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

GT and Honors English 10 

Creative Writing 

College(s) Attended

The Evergreen State College (Bachelor of Arts) 

Goddard College (Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing) 

The Evergreen State College (Master of Arts in Teaching) 

Hometown

Seattle, WA 

Bio: Hello Poets, Scholars, Writers, and Philosophers! Ms. Savoy here. Your schedule calls my class English class, but in reality you have entered the TOOLS OF POWER class. Your brain is about to experience a revolution. 
 
This is my 4th year at Woodlawn High School and I moved to Baltimore from Seattle, Washington. For the past three years I have taught in the Early College Program, but before that I also taught English 10, English 11, and SAT Prep. 
 
I serve as the advisor to the Publication Club, which produces the WHS student magazine, The Wakanda Warrior. Contact me to get involved if you want to be part of putting together Woodlawn's student voice in print! 

I am a published poet and writer, an herbalist, and I have a magical cat named Romeo (who wears a bow tie, if you need evidence to support my claim). I eat books for breakfast. 

Name 

Alexis Skinner 

Email 

askinner@bcps.org  

Classes Taught

English 9, Theatre 1 

College(s) Attended

Temple University (BA) - Theatre & Psychology 

Goldsmiths, University of London (MA) - Arts Administration & Cultural Policy 

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland 

Bio: My name is Dr. Skinner and I am in the English department. This is my second year at Woodlawn High School, but I have been teaching in Higher Education since 2007


I have lived outside of the United States and I love theatre, art, and all kinds of music. Currently, I am wrapping up my PhD in Theatre History at Louisiana State University and working on my dissertation. 

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