Elementary/Secondary Education
Collegewide Department Chair
Email: andrew.herst@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-3945
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 136
Administrative Aide
Collegewide Directors
Email: debra.poese@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7269
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SV 406 E
Biography
Professor Poese came to Montgomery College as a member of the Mathematics Department in 1985. She served five years as the chair of the Mathematics Department, and for eighteen months as acting Instructional Dean for Science, Engineering and Mathematics, before becoming the Director of the School of Education in June of 2007. Her time is currently divided between teaching mathematics and serving as the Director of Teacher Education Partnerships at MC. She was awarded Montgomery College Outstanding Faculty Service Awards in 2001 and again in 2016.
Email: zeporia.smith@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7192
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SV 406 G
Biography
Dr. Smith holds an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Bilingual Special Education, from George Washington University and a B.A. in Spanish and Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University. She speaks English and Spanish fluently as well as basic French. She has traveled extensively and has lived in Europe and Central America. Her varied career path, from fifteen years working in the World Bank to teaching in a bilingual elementary school in the District of Columbia public school system, provides a full complement of experiences that serves for teacher preparation in the Montgomery College's A.A.T. program. She is the coordinator for the Education Department and the coordinator for the Field Experience Program on the Rockville campus. Her philosophy: Today's classroom requires culturally responsive teachers trained to provide culturally relevant instruction for a culturally and linguistically diverse population of learners who also may have exceptionalities. Teaching a student begins by first understanding the culture, the language, and the home life of that student and then the needs of our global society. Emphasis in her courses is placed on using cooperative learning strategies and specialized curriculum to meet the needs of all learners including English language learners and learners with special needs.
Collegewide Coordinator
Email: glenda.hernandeztittle@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240 567 1317
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SV 406B
Program Assistant
Full-Time Faculty
Email: carlos.marroquin@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-4950
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SV 406B
Biography
Professor Carlos Marroquin was born in Washington, DC and raised in Silver Spring, MD. Professor Marroquin attended Montgomery College as a student and earned his A.A.T. in Elementary Education and Special Education. Professor Marroquin then pursued his education at Towson University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.After earning his degree at Towson, Professor Marroquin began his teaching career with Montgomery County Public Schools. Throughout his time at MCPS, Professor Marroquin created and led multiple afterschool programs to support underserved students. He also collaborated with the community, local non-profit organizations, local businesses, and other schools to create opportunities in areas of need, for the underserved community he had the privilege of working with during his time at MCPS. During his tenure at MCPS Professor Marroquin also earned his Master’s degree from The George Washington University in Special Education for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners.
Professor Marroquin began working with Montgomery College in 2021 as an adjunct professor with the School of Education. During that time he co-authored the Early Childhood Alternative Certification Program offered at Montgomery College, which is the first of its kind in the nation. Professor Marroquin became full time faculty with Montgomery College’s School of Education in 2023.
Professor Marroquin is certified in Elementary Education, Special Education K-12, and Early Childhood Education. He is also a member of Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND), which focuses on recruiting, developing, retaining, and empowering male educators of color.
Email: brandon.wallace@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5919
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, RC 201
Biography
Prof. Brandon C.S. Wallace serves on two national assessments, specifically as an English/ language arts (ELA) and Accessibility, Accommodations and Fairness (AAF) committee appointee for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and Standing Reading Committee appointee for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Brandon is a curricula writer, national public speaker, presenter, and author, whose
most recent piece entitled "For Special Educators Who Have Considered Giving Up When
the Rainbow is Enough: A Retrospective and Prospective Essay on Being a Black Male
in Specialized Education,” is one of over 50 compelling stories of triumph from Men
of Colr in the newly released Gumbo for the Soul: Males of Color in the newly released
Gumbo for the Soul: Males of Color Share Their Stories, Meditations, Affirmations,
and Inspirations (edited by Brian L. Wright, Nathaniel Bryan, Christopher J.P. Sewell,
Lucian Yates, III., Michael Robinson, and Kianga Thomas.
Mr. Wallace has received many awards for his teaching, most notably the Diane Tobin
Award for Excellence in Teaching from John Hopkins University’s School of Education
and the Award for Professionalism from Montgomery College.
Educational Background
MAT, Johns Hopkins UniversityBA, Bowie State University