Support Staff
Building Services
Mr. Mohamed Kargbo
I am the Building Service Manager at Westover. This will be my fourth year as a Building Service Manager. Mrs. Yasmine Hernandez I am a building service worker. This will be my fourth year at Westover Elementary. I graduated in my country of Nicaragua. I like my job. During my free time, I like to cook, go to church, and exercise at the gym.
Instructional Data Assistant
Cara Lowry
I was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. I attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park. My degree is in mathematics. I have always known that I would have a career that involved numbers and problem solving. As a child, I enjoyed playing outside with my brothers, and working on puzzles. I loved reading the Encyclopedia Brown books because I liked solving the mysteries! I enjoy teaching math and watching the kids see how fun numbers can be.
Cafeteria
Shirkeja Snowden
I am the Cafeteria Manager at Westover. This will be my fourth year as a cafeteria manager here at Westover ES. I graduated from the Strayer University with an Associate’s degree in Computer Networking. During my free time, I enjoy being with my two year old daughter, Saniyah.
Health
Ms. McDow
I am the health room technician at Westover Elementary School. This is my fifth year as a health room technician. Previously I was a substitute teacher with MCPS. I graduated from Howard University in 1975 with a BS Degree in Human Ecology. During my free time, I enjoy dining out, travelling, visiting flea markets and assisting the elderly. This summer I read a good book entitled: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.
Paraeducators/Recess Aides/Lunch Aides
Mrs. Vivian Kassman
I grew up in Laurel, Maryland. I went to college at the University of Maryland in College Park. After college I started working in retail management. I went on to be an administrative assistant for a trade association and law firm. My favorite toy as a child was my stuffed donkey that I got when I was two. I still have him! My most memorable book character is Harry Potter. My favorite aspect of teaching is watching the kindergartners learn to read!
Mrs. Bonnie Tomlinson
I grew up in central and northern New Jersey. I went to college at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. Before working with children, I worked in advertising in New York City for nearly ten years. After moving to Maryland I had a second career in retail management. As a child, my favorite games were Colorforms and dress-up! My most memorable book character was, "Heidi." I loved the idea of the very simple life she had, living with her grandfather. I also liked the bread and cheese they ate at every meal! My favorite aspect of teaching is seeing that moment of joy when a student you are working with, "gets it."
Mrs. Kristina Tuttle
I am a paraeducator at Westover Elementary School. This is my fourth year at Westover, and my fifth year with MCPS. I graduated from the University of Baltimore with a Bachelor's Degree in English. I love my job because I get to know all of the students and help them do their best. During my free time, I enjoy being with my family. I also like to read and do puzzles of all kinds. This summer I read with my son The Good Dog by Avi. The book was a real page-turner and full of adventure. Nasrin Aliasgar
I grew up in Abadan, Iran. I graduated from the Tehran University with a B.S. degree in Accounting and Math. (This has been evaluated by the World of Education as a B.S. degree). I taught math in high school for seventeen years in Iran. Since 2001 I have worked for Montgomery County Public Schools as a substitute teacher and now as a Special Education paraeducator. As a child, my favorite toys were blocks and bricks. My goal is to enhance my knowledge and skills on behavior management strategies, so I can effectively manage student problems and/or conflicts.
Special Education Paraeducators
Ms. Janine Cardoso
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. I went to Ohio State University and Trinity Washington University. I almost chose nursing as a career, but decided teaching was a better choice for me. My favorite childhood game was, "Trouble." I can remember sitting and playing for hours with my siblings. My most memorable book character was, "Winnie the Pooh." I remember sitting with my siblings every evening, listening to his stories on vinyl records! My favorite aspect of teaching is seeing my students improve their skills daily.
Ms. Pat Warren
I grew up in the very small town of Amesbury, Massachusetts. While I've had several "jobs," the only career I've wanted was working with children. My favorite childhood game was making snow forts with my brothers and sisters. With four brothers and two sisters, those forts were a big production! My most memorable book characters were the ones in the Little House series. I read a chapter every night to my girls when they were growing up. My favorite aspect of teaching is the relationship I've formed with my students.
Ms. Iris Wolf
I spent my childhood in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I went to Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to coming to Westover I worked for an Internet provider in the sales support department. My most memorable book character is Sophie, from Sophie's Choice. I enjoy working with children who have developmental problems which affect their social and communication skills, and helping them cope in a society where communication is crucial to sustain a normal life.
Mrs. Enid K. Lam
I grew up in Fujian, China. I graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and Computer Studies. The career that I almost chose over teaching was Business Management. Prior to this job I worked as a Book Store Assistant at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). My favorite childhood toys were coil toy and Connect Four. My most memorable book characters are super heroes who save people's lives. One of my favorite aspects of teaching is watching how patient the teachers are.
Mrs. Sefanit Worku
I grew up in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. I went to college at Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow, Russia. As a child my favorite past time was playing the piano. My most memorable book character is David in the Holy Bible. Mrs. Mary Abbott
I was born and raised in Rockville, Maryland. I went to Montgomery College in Takoma Park. I was a Domestic Engineer for the first 15 years of my marriage. When all of my children were in school I decided that I wanted to work with children. My favorite activity as a child was playing hide-n-seek with my six siblings and all the neighbor children. My most memorable book character is Laura Ingalls from the Little House series. My favorite aspect of teaching is seeing the children grow and make progress in language and other new skills.
Mr. Manfred Nusta
I grew up in Cameroon and the United States. I went to St. Joseph College Sasse in Cameroon, Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri and Americdan University. Before teaching, I held positions in law, law enforcement, Civilian Complaint Review Board and business. As a child, my favorite game was soccer! My most memorable book is the Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein character is the I love to teach kids with special needs because I want them to be self-sufficient thereby becoming responsive and responsible citizens in their communities and beyond. I enjoy reading, playing the guitar and playing tennis. This summer I taught high school students with special needs.
Mrs. Connie Mok
I am a special education para-educator at Westover. This will be my 3rd year as a special education para-educator at Westover. I graduated from the Tamkang University with a Bachelors of Arts degree specializing in Accounting and Statistics. I really enjoy working with children with special needs because I believe that every child deserves equal education. During my free time, I enjoy making arts and crafts, knitting and gardening. This summer I taught at a Chinese school to students between the ages of 5 to 14. I taught the students Chinese poems and traditional Chinese arts and crafts, games and calligraphy. One of my favorite hands on activities is making origami, Chinese knotting and paper cutting.
Ms. Karen Krens
I grew up in Bowie, Maryland. I went to the University of Maryland, College Park. I started out as a Business major and then switched to Special Ed/Elementary Education. My favorite childhood game was Monopoly. I also enjoyed playing Monopoly with my own children! My favorite aspect of teaching is seeing the growth children make as they learn new concepts. Their smiles of excitement are catching!
Ms. Nancy Alfano
I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania. I went to Kutztown University for undergraduate studies and Syracuse University for graduate school. I was an English major upon entering college. I also wanted to be a Fire Fighter when I was a young child. (Actually, I still love watching the hook and ladder truck go by!) As a child, my favorite past time was being included in any game with my older brother and his friends! My most memorable book character was Cinderella! My favorite aspect of teaching is that it is different and new every day.