English Department
Mission
The goal of the English Language Arts program is to create literate, thoughtful communicators, capable of controlling language effectively as they negotiate an increasingly complex and information-rich world. Students will refine specific skills and strategies in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing and will use these skills and strategies widely as tools for learning and reflection. Exploring a variety of texts, students will understand and appreciate language and literature as catalysts for deep thought and emotion.
Dana Birdin, Resource Teacher
Phone: 301-388-9966
Courses
| English 9 | TV Production |
| English 10 | Radio |
| English 11 | Journalism - Newspaper |
| English 12 | Yearbook |
| AP English Language and Composition | Theatre 1 and Theatre 2 |
| AP English Literature and Composition | Advanced Acting |
| Stage Design | Directing |
Staff
|
Teacher |
Bio |
Courses |
E-mail Address |
|
Dana Birdin |
Dana Birdin received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Hampton University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. |
English 12 and AP Literature
|
|
|
Rick Bergmann |
Rick Bergmann received his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Maryland in College Park. He is currently the news director of The Beltsville News and one of the founding members of UpStage Artists, Incorporated, a non-profit community theater group in Beltsville. |
Writing Center |
|
|
Carly Bloom |
Carly Bloom studied at University of Maryland and received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, and is passionate about traveling the world and trying all different kinds of foods. |
Hon English 9A |
|
|
Thomas DeGroff |
Thomas DeGroff teaches English 10. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master's Degree in Underwater Basket Weaving with a minor in Left-Handed Armenian Poets of the 13th Century. He has always rooted for the Yankees despite the social stigma. |
||
|
Elizabeth Dodds |
Elizabeth Dodds teaches AP Seminar and AP Lang. She has a BA in English from Messiah College and a M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership from the University of Maryland. She is happily married and a proud mother to two boys. Additionally, she is a competitive runner who has run the Boston Marathon and is a self-proclaimed Swiftie. |
AP Seminar and AP Lang |
|
|
Chris Ellis |
Chris Ellis teaches English 11/10/College Prep Reading, and works with Academic Intervention. He has a degree in Journalism and English Education from UMD, and a Masters in Human Development. He also taught Secondary Ed majors at University of Maryland at College Park for 17 years until 2025. He has two children, and has recently (slowly) returned to the world of fitness after a three decade absence. |
English 10 English 11 College Prep Reading |
|
|
Ms. Flippen teaches English 10 and 11. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University and has a master’s degree from University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly UMUC). Ms. Flippen enjoys yoga, reading, hiking, and rock climbing. |
English 10 and English 11 |
||
|
Mr. Gammons began his academic journey at Indiana University Bloomington where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts. He has also earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from the University of Chicago and a Master of Arts in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. He enjoys writing in all its forms and purposes. |
English Composition Assistant |
||
|
Kelley Hill |
Ms. Hill teaches English 11 and 12. Originally from Pennsylvania, she got her B.A in Secondary English Education with a minor in English from Penn State and her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration from George Washington University. She loves animals, food, the water, and Penn State football. |
English 11 and English 12 |
|
|
Katie Kelel |
Katie Kelel |
||
|
Yoo Kim-Miles |
Yoo Kim-Miles teaches English 10 and AP Seminar. She has a BA in English and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education, both from University of Maryland. She enjoys cooking, eating, and spending time with her family. |
English 10 and
AP Seminar |
|
|
Heather Longo |
Heather Longo earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature and Secondary Education from Marist University She also holds her Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Saint John’s University, in Queens, New York where she is from. She is the proud mother of two young boys and enjoys hanging out with them, working out, hiking, reading (obviously) yoga, cooking and traveling. |
English 9 and English 10 |
|
|
Angela Lucey |
Angela Lucey is a Burtonsville native who attended Burtonsville Elementary, Banneker Middle, and is a ‘94 alum of Paint Branch. She previously taught at Banneker Middle School and Blake High School. She teaches 9th and 11th grade English and is also the Yearbook Advisor. She has a B.A. in English and Writing from UMBC as well as a M.A. in curriculum design from UMBC. She also has a J.D. from the University of Baltimore. |
English 9 and English 11 |
|
|
Samantha Millman |
Samantha Millman teaches 11th and 12th-grade English. This is her 16th year teaching. She has a BS in English Literature and a Master's degree in Education from Frostburg State University. Co-coach of our fabulous Swim and Dive team. Loves Disney, snow, and movies! |
English 11 and 12 |
|
|
Alissa Munoz |
Ms. Munoz teaches English 10 and 12. Born in D.C. and raised in Montgomery County, she received her B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland. She is additionally certified in Montessori Education. She loves karaoke, hiking, dogs with floppy ears, and outside time with her family. |
English 10 and English 12 |
|
|
Michael Nesmith |
Michael Nesmith started working at Paint Branch in 2007 when he was named varsity head football coach. He attended both the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland Global Campus, graduating with a BA in English. He has taught both 9th and 11th grade English while @ PBHS. |
Honors English 9 |
|
|
Amber Clair Perkins |
Amber Clair Perkins started teaching at Paint Branch in 2004. She has taught every grade level in English and teaches all of the Theatre classes. Miss Perkins graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Theatre Arts and completed her Master of Theatre Production and Design at Southern Oregon University in July of 2015. Miss Perkins directs Paint Branch Perspectives, the school’s drama club and coaches the award-winning Forensics Team (Public Speaking, not CSI). |
English 11 Theatre |
|
|
Cambrian Powell |
Degrees in English and Secondary Education, both from University of Maryland College Park; lived in 5 different states and attended three different high schools; have been teaching since August 1999; have taught every grade in high school and 6th grade in middle school; am currently teaching AP Lang and 12; have 2 boys that keep me on my toes! |
||
|
Karl Schiffgens |
Mr. Schiffgens teaches English 9. He earned his undergraduate degree from Providence and has done his post-graduate work at Bowie State University and Johns Hopkins University. |
English 9 and AP Literature |
|
|
Brian Woodward |
Mr. Woodward, who has been teaching at Paint Branch since 2002, teaches a variety of English classes including Journalism and Creative Writing. A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Woodward enjoys following his hometown teams as well as spending time with his family and traveling. |
Journalism Creative Writing SAT Prep |
|