About Us :: Second Grade

Current Coursework
Coming Soon!

The Teachers

Jessica Nizamoff (Ms. N) is excited to join the Southwest Baltimore Charter School family this year! She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. After college, she spent a couple of years traveling the globe before moving to Baltimore. In May 2005, Ms. N was awarded her Masters of Arts in Teaching from The Johns Hopkins University. She worked in Howard County Public Schools and St. Casimir Catholic School before coming to Southwest Baltimore Charter School. In her free time she enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Linn Thorburn (Ms. Thorburn) has been teaching in Baltimore City for six years, and she is thrilled to be back for her third year at SBCS! She attended college at The University of Georgia, where she studied journalism and was also a member of the National Champion bulldogs swim team. Ms. Thorburn left her native Georgia and moved to Baltimore in 2004 as a part of Teach for America's teaching corps. She completed her MAT at Johns Hopkins University in 2006 and joined the SBCS faculty in 2007. In her spare time, Ms. Thorburn enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, listening to live music, and hiking with her big, goofy goldendoodles.

Melanie Maisey (Miss Melanie) has been with SBCS since our first year in 2005. She has taught in a variety of settings for over 18 years including infant and early childhood care all the way through teaching English to adults in community college. She earned her BA in Visual and Performing Arts from UMBC in 1992, then followed with a master's level education program at Antioch New England Graduate School from 1996-1998. She is still working on that thesis, though, to earn the last four credits of her M. Ed. She is currently enrolled in Loyola University's M.Ed. program to earn an advanced teaching certificate as a reading specialist. Her background is in classical education, alternative learning approaches and Waldorf Education methodology; as you can see, she is happiest when she is doing little bits of many different things. She is an avid rock-climber, loves the flying trapeze, skiing, and anything involving either the ocean or the mountains. Miss Melanie is a single mother to three children, Benjamin (9) in 3rd grade, Lucian (5) in kindergarten, and Tori (20).

Brandon Bennett (Mr. Brandon) is entering his fifth year at SBCS. Prior to joining us, he worked at Bolton Hill Nursery School, which led to his fortuitous meeting with Erika Brockman. After only nine months of prodding, wheedling, and cajoling, he came on board with us in the inaugural 2005-06 school year. Mr. Brandon spent two years with the Kindergarten Team before deciding to broaden his horizons by moving to Second Grade in 2007-08. An avid fan of the arts, Mr. Brandon has self-published two novels, and spends his spare time reading and writing movies, music, and following the Washington Wizards. He will study at Tulane University this year (via the Internet!) to finish his degree in Mass Communications/Journalism.