Leah Renzi
Coordinator of Social Studies, Maryland State Department of Education

In her role as Coordinator of Social Studies at MSDE, Leah Renzi draws on her 22 years of classroom instruction for her leadership of social studies teaching and assessment. During her time in the classroom, she taught on both the middle and high school levels. She is a past president of the Maryland Council for the Social Studies, a current member of the National Council for Social Studies, and serves as a Director on the Executive Board for the Council of State Social Studies Specialists. Leah also represents the state of Maryland on the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards for Social Studies in the Council of Chief State School Officers.

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Leah taught in the Center for History Education’s, “Teaching American History” program as the middle school instructor and has been awarded multiple fellowships to teach and study abroad in East Asia and the United Kingdom. In addition, Leah has been active in the History Day program as both a teacher and judge. She was named Teacher of the Year by the Maryland History Day program in 2002 and 2006. In 2014, she was awarded the Patricia Behring High School Teacher of the Year. She holds an undergraduate degree in Social Science Secondary Education from Towson University, a Masters in Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, and a Certificate in Culturally Proficient Leadership from Notre Dame University of Maryland.

Dr. George Daniel Brown
Supervisor of Secondary Social Studies, Professional Learning, and New Teacher Induction, Allegany County Public Schools

Dr. George Daniel Brown earned his B. S. and M. Ed. from Frostburg State University. He earned his Ed. D. in 2007 from West Virginia University. He holds certifications in Administration, Social Studies, Special Education, and as a K-12 Reading Specialist in Maryland. He is currently the Supervisor of Secondary Social Studies, Professional Learning, and New Teacher Induction in Allegany County, MD, and he taught several graduate level courses as an adjunct instructor at West Virginia University from 2007 - 2019. In 2016, he was one of four UDL Leadership Fellows in the state of Maryland.

Nicholas Gardiner
Social Studies Educator, Charles County Public Schools

Nicholas Gardiner is an elementary educator in Charles County, Maryland. He has taught 4th and 5th grades for the past 12 years and is currently in charge of gifted education and testing at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School in Waldorf, Maryland. Social Studies education is a passion of his. In addition to teaching, Mr. Gardiner was a part of the workgroup to refine the Social Studies Framework in the state of Maryland, and is also currently a member of the Elementary Lead Team, responsible for assisting teachers across the state in implementing the new Framework. He lives in Waldorf with his daughter.

Marzelle Thomas-Smith
Classroom Teacher, Baltimore County Public Schools

Marzelle Thomas-Smith, a thirty-seven-year veteran of the Baltimore County School System presents her seasoned educational perspectives stemming from a wide range of experiences. Having taught all subjects in the K-5 classroom, serving ten years as a resource teacher for her school system in Advanced Academics and Title One she has sought to grow with a mindset considering what is really best for kids? As a supporter of Cultural Proficiency, the value of social studies and its message; she has a story to tell.

Monique Ward
Social Studies Supervisor, Dorchester County Public Schools

Monique Ward currently is the Curriculum Supervisor of Social Studies and World Languages at Dorchester County Public Schools. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree (Social Science Education) at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and she received her Master’s Degree in (Educational Leadership) from Salisbury University. She spent 24 years in various leadership roles (teaching and administration) in Somerset County Public Schools before transitioning to Dorchester County. In addition to her love of working with young people, she enjoys visiting historical museums and traveling.

George J. Toepfer
Supervisor of Social Studies, Harford County Public Schools

George is a 30 Year Educator with Harford County Public Schools. He was a teacher at Edgewood High School for 11 years and is completing his 19th year as the Supervisor of Social Studies.