Class Notes
1960s
Ron Boone 鈥�68 published the science fiction novel, Planet XXY. Boone worked for 40 years in the Baltimore County Public Schools, rising to executive director of federal and state programs before retiring in 2007. He lives in Timonium, Maryland, with his wife Jackie.
1970s
William Owings 鈥�73 and his wife Leslie Kaplan published the third edition of their textbook, American Public School Finance. They also wrote a chapter entitled 鈥淧rivatizing American public schools: Student and taxpayer impact" in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Educational Administration and presented a paper at the Oxford Education and Women鈥檚 Leadership conference.
1980s
Scott Russell 鈥�82 received a Master of Science, Educational Leadership, from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.
Sam Polakoff 鈥�86 will publish his latest novel, Escaping Mercy, on July 17. He specializes in writing thrillers with a hint of science fiction.
Paul Ryan 鈥�87 recently published the eBook Repair or Raise & Retain a Great Credit Score. It provides coaching on how to improve and maintain good-to-great credit histories and scores. Ryan also has been a proud volunteer with alumni relations for several years.
Mitchell S. Platt 鈥�89 was elected the vice chairman of the Club Management Association of America Board of Directors at its 2021 World Conference and Club Business Expo, held virtually in March. He was first elected to the board in 2016. Platt has been serving as the general manager of Cosmos Club since 2013.
Philip Pokorny 鈥�89 retired in April after a 28-year career with the Baltimore County government. Pokorny had been employed since 2017 by the circuit court as the manager for criminal cases. Pokorny spent 24 years with the corrections department, most recently as the manager of the Community Corrections Unit.
1990s
Chuck Gatton 鈥�91 was named GC8 Conference Swimming Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. This year the girls team he coaches at Crystal River High School in Florida was the district champions, while the boys were runners-up. (Last year the boys were district champions and the girls were runners-up.)
Jennifer Roberts 鈥�92 was named JPMorgan Chase & Co.鈥檚 new chief executive of consumer banking. Roberts joined the bank in 1996 and most recently led the business banking group, where she oversaw the bank鈥檚 role in distributing more than $32 billion in small business loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
Richard Holley 鈥�96 completed the requirement for an Adult Basic Education (ABE) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered in partnership with Penn State's College of Education.
Melanie Upright 鈥�96, 鈥�98 published More Time to Lead: The Principal's Guide to Empowered Teachers, Successful Students and Satisfied Parents. It addresses foundational skills educators need to effectively support struggling students in a complex educational landscape.
Jack S. Monell 鈥�97 won the MLK Building the Dream Award. An associate professor and program coordinator of justice studies at Winston-Salem State University, Monell has been a spokesperson for social justice in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
2000s
Damon Marra鈥檚 鈥�01 company Retirement Plan Consulting Group was named a NAPA Top D.C. Advisor Team.
Amanda Costley 鈥�02 is an attorney for the Department of Defense. On March 1, she and co-author Shante Willis released Oakley and Ivan and the All-Nighter, the first book in a new series. The book is an 鈥渋nnovative bedtime experience鈥� that contains a song, dance and an overall lesson that reminds children that they need sleep.
Steffani Harris 鈥�02 released Life Dosages, a book of poetry, in May.
Julie (Novak) Kostic鈥檚 鈥�06 graphic design and marketing company JK Creative received a $75,000 Innovation Award from the Avalon Park Group in Orlando, Florida.
Brendan McElroy 鈥�06 was named to Northern Virginia magazine鈥檚 40 Under 40 List. In April, Franklin IQ, the company McElroy founded, was named a 鈥淰eteran Owned Business of the Year鈥� by the American Business Awards.
2010s
Stacy Scott 鈥�10 started a feng shui business aimed at helping women reconnect to themselves, using home as a tool for transformation.
Amanda Wells 鈥�10 was named Delaware School Psychologist of the Year for 2020鈥�21.
Edward L. Sledge Jr. 鈥�13 and his wife co-founded Sledge House Media, a publishing and media company. They also self-published a memoir, The Story of Christina and I, which was released in March. They live in Howard County, Maryland, with their two daughters.