Charles student advisors recognized by state association

Two school advisors in Charles County were recently honored for their work with students.

For those who walk into St. Charles High School and see an enthusiastic academic mentor repping a school polo shirt, it’s probably Danielle Carpenter.

Carpenter, academic mentor and student government association advisor at St. Charles, recently received the Mike Michaelson Advisor of the Year Award through the Maryland Association of Student Councils, or MASC, for her dedication to her role.

The MASC Advisor of the Year program was created to recognize the contributions of advisors to student council success across the state of Maryland, according to a release from the Charles public school system.

Carpenter grew up in Montgomery County. She journeyed through her primary years in school thinking that she wanted to be a lawyer like her grandfather. That all changed once she met her seventh-grade social studies teacher. “I wanted to be her,” she said. This teacher inspired her to start thinking about education as a career.

Later, Carpenter attended Frostburg State University and graduated with an undergraduate degree in social studies and psychology and a master’s in education.

“I am a living testament to what a student can accomplish with the right guidance and support, and I firmly believe that I would not be the person I am today without Ms. Danielle Carpenter,” Mechelle Johnson-Reeves, St. Charles senior, said. “Even after facing two failed student member of the board elections, I can confidently state that I would not be in this position without Ms. Carpenter’s unwavering belief in me.”

Carpenter can be seen around St. Charles assisting new teachers and providing them resources and support within their classrooms. She is a Relay for Life team coordinator and has extensive experience in planning events for the school such as pep rallies and Spirit Week voting.

“I was very surprised. You don’t do this kind of stuff for recognition and the [nomination] letters that were written were very sweet,” Carpenter said.

Charles native turned teacherFrom his earliest years of learning at Dr. James Craik Elementary School to now teaching social studies at Thomas Stone High School, Gary Winsett is no stranger to Charles County Public Schools.

“I grew up in the county,” he said. “I graduated from Maurice J. McDonough High School in 1994, attended Craik and Milton M. Somers Middle School.”

After high school, Winsett attended College of Southern Maryland. He later graduated with his undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2001.

Originally headed to college to pursue a sportscasting career, Winsett said that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in broadcasting. He eventually landed on attending St. Mary’s College for a degree in history and anthropology, but still not as a teacher.

“I came home from class one day and was asked to teach the youth one Wednesday night at church,” he said. “I know that teenagers don’t typically pay attention to teachings but when I saw that they were engaged in what I was saying, I was like ‘OK I can teach this.’”

This led him to stay an extra year at college to obtain his certification in teaching. Right after college he started teaching history at Stone and has been there ever since.

Winsett served as the school’s SGA advisor for about six years before the regional advisor role opened.

Eventually, he interviewed for the position and was named the new Charles County Association of Student Councils advisor.

“Mr. Winsett’s exceptional leadership has not gone unnoticed,” Christian Kotvis, student liaison to the Board and a senior at Stone. “He has performed a plethora of roles within CCPS, including organizing CCPS’ participation in the Polar Plunge, Every 15 Minutes, Student Member of the Board election and oversight committee, Student Liaison Committee, and hosting two MASC events in Charles County in past years, all in addition to teaching U.S. Government classes.”

“To inspire, if I am any kind of influence on students to be a leader or anything along those lines, that’s my favorite part,” Winsett said.

Carpenter and Winsett both were recognized at the April 13 award ceremony at Hagerstown High school in Washington County.