MAT Hooding Program_issuu

master of arts in teaching hooding ceremony Thursday, May 14, 2026

2026

Order of Exercises Procession of Students, Faculty, Staff and Honored Guests Greetings Angela Johnson, Ph.D., professor and co-chair of the Department of Educational Studies

Student Addresses

Caleb Newton '25, MAT '26 and Meghan Musselman '25, MAT '26

Address Introduction

Tylita Butler MAT '18 Science teacher, Esperanza Middle School and St. Mary's County Teacher of the Year 2026

Address

Taylor Schafer '15, MAT '16 History teacher, North East Middle School and Cecil County Teacher of the Year 2026

Presentation of Candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching Degree Sahar Shafqat, Ph.D., associate dean of faculty

Charge to the Graduating Class The Department of Educational Studies

Recessional Music

Hooding Ceremony As part of the recognition of earning a graduate degree, master and doctoral students participate in a hooding ceremony in the lead up to commencement. During this celebration, a faculty member places the master's hood over the head of the graduate, signifying their successful completion of the degree. The colors of the hood signify the field of study and in some cases, the institution. The light blue velvet band represents education, while the yellow is a reference to the St. Mary’s College of Maryland school colors.

Hooding Ceremony Speakers Tylita Butler MAT ’18

Science Teacher, Esperanza Middle School St. Mary's County Teacher of the Year, 2026 Tylita Butler is a distinguished educator and a proud alumna of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Recently honored as the 2026 St. Mary’s County Teacher of the Year, Butler has dedicated eight years to the pursuit of instructional excellence and student-centered learning. At Esperanza Middle School, she is recognized for cultivating inclusive and academically rigorous environments where critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application are fundamental to the curriculum.

Central to her pedagogy is a steadfast commitment to culturally relevant teaching. Butler intentionally designs her classroom as a space where diverse perspectives are celebrated and every student achieves a genuine sense of belonging. By integrating data-driven strategies with a culturally responsive lens, she ensures her instruction addresses the unique needs of all learners, empowering them to excel as scholars and active contributors to their community.

Beyond her classroom, Butler serves as a dedicated instructional leader. She provides mentorship to emerging educators, facilitates professional development, and contributes her expertise to district-wide curriculum design. Her leadership extends to the athletic field as a local high school coach, reinforcing her philosophy that meaningful connections are the foundation of effective education.

Taylor Schafer ’15, MAT ’16

History Teacher, North East Middle School Cecil County Teacher of the Year, 2026 Taylor Schafer received her bachelor’s degree in 2015 and her master’s degree in teaching (MAT) in 2016, both from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. A history major, she currently teaches eighth-grade U.S. History at North East Middle School (NEMS) in Cecil County, Maryland, where she has worked since 2016. She coaches the girls' volleyball team at NEMS; chairs the NEMS Staff School Culture Committee; moderates the Volleyball Club; and leads fundraising for and coordinates the annual eighth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C. She writes social studies curriculum, mentors new teachers, and recently served as a clinical educator for a student teacher from the University of Delaware.

She also serves as an alumni mentor to current first-year students at St. Mary’s College of Maryland who are interested in pursuing careers in history or teaching. In 2026, she was named as the Cecil County Teacher of the Year. She currently lives in Abingdon, Maryland.

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching Degree Hayden Edward Aberdeen Ellicott City, Maryland Mathematics 7-12

Corinne Veronica Hines Severna Park, Maryland Special Education 1-8

Katherine Adams Arbitus, Maryland Music K-12

Liam Moloney Johnston Silver Spring, Maryland Social Studies 7-12

Kelsi Danyel Anderson Baltimore, Maryland Mathematics 7-12

Madison Anne Laine Kingsville, Maryland Elementary Education 1-6 Early Childhood Education PreK-6

Arnold Beck Annapolis, Maryland English 7-12 Joseph Carson Sikesville, Maryland Social Studies 7-12 Julia Claire Carter * Rockville, Maryland Spanish 7-12 Yasmin Isabel Cazares Ramirez * ** Lusby, Maryland Spanish 7-12 Isabel Adelina Deters Indian Head, Maryland Mathematics 7-12 Bana Gezhai Takoma Park, Maryland English & Social Studies 7-12 Victoria Sharon Laurene Godfrey Lusby, Maryland Art K-12 Samuel James Harper Worton, Maryland English & Mathematics 7-12

Ethan Lifson-Book Pikesville, Maryland Elementary Education 1-6 Hannah McQueen La Plata, Maryland Art K-12 Meghan Shelby Musselman * Towson, Maryland Elementary Education 1-6 Caleb Newton * Philadelphia, Pennsylvania History & Social Studies 7-12 Kenneth Jefferson Nunn Silver Spring, Maryland Music K-12 Pierre Petitjean Leonardtown, Maryland Music K-12 Brianna Nicole Smith Mechanicsville, Maryland Elementary Education 1-6 *MSDE Teacher of Promise **MATE Distinguished Teacher Candidate

The Department of Educational Studies Sahar Shafqat, Ph.D., associate dean of faculty Angela Johnson, Ph.D., professor of educational studies David Morris, Ph.D., professor of educational studies Katherine Koch, Ph.D., associate professor of educational studies Janet Varner '91, Ed.D., lecturer of educational studies Whitney Nyman '14, MAT '15, lecturer of educational studies Crystal Dunkin, Ph.D., associate director of teacher education Elsa Ugues, M.Ed., educational studies support specialist

Adjunct Faculty Krys Baker Jenifer Kearns Joanne Goldwater Rob Mattera Sherri O'Dell Kathleen Reineke Connie Reynolds April Ryan Katherine Sushinsky