Meet the Bargaining Team!
- Bargaining Team Chair: Dustin Jeter, MCEA Secretary
- Bargaining Team Vice Chair: Kember Kane, MCEA Treasurer
- Chief Negotiator: Yasmina Mrabet, MCEA Deputy Director
Elementary School Team Members
- Ina Darragh, Whetstone ES
- Matthew Hladiuk, Arcola ES
- Erin Joseph-Hamilton, Laytonsville ES
- Siobhan Martinez, Wyngate ES
- Jennifer Parrott, Burning Tree ES
- Carson Pursifull, Rock Creek Valley ES
- Laura Sutter, Sherwood ES
Middle School Team Members
- Rachel Miller, Tilden MS
- Eric Munson, Pyle MS
High School Team Members
- Jeffrey Benya, Wootton HS
- Fernanda (Luisa) Chaney, Rockville HS
- Jessica Conter, Quince Orchard HS
- Rainer Kulenkampff, Walter Johnson HS
- Cindy Lotto, Gaithersburg HS
- John Ward, Watkins Mill HS
Infants and Toddlers
- Cynthia Spooner, Upcounty/Neelsville
- Jennifer Weber, English Manor
Non-School-Based Team Members
- Sarah Breslaw
- Joan Mory
- Rashemah Stridiron
- Melanie Travers
- Alyssa Williams
Special Education Members
- Elizabeth Meier – RICA
- Elizabeth Chipkin – Stephen Knolls
Dates to Remember
Keep these dates on your calendar and check back here for updates:
Bargaining 101
How does negotiating a Collective Bargaining Agreement for 14,000 people work?
It starts with the bargaining survey, which is sent to every member before negotiations begin, so that the team knows what is important to members in the upcoming contract.
The bargaining team is composed of members volunteering their time and energy to ensure a fair contract for their colleagues. They work countless hours after school and on weekends during the negotiation season, at the bargaining table, in strategic sessions, and in the field. Any member can volunteer for the bargaining team during the period between ___ and ___.
Bargaining is ready to begin when both MCEA and MCPS have a bargaining team and a chief negotiator. The two parties meet, along with their teams and lead negotiators, and MCEA presents our opening proposal. The MCPS team responds with their counter-proposal, and this begins the series of negotiations that ultimately leads to our Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA.
Contract 2026
In 2026, we are fighting for:
- Full staffing in every classroom, with a focus on Special Education and EML
- Student and staff safety
- Special Education staffing and programming
- Appropriate staffing assistance for toileting issues
- Professional autonomy
- Recruitment and retention for high-quality educators