About Us :: Support Staff
We have a number of speciality teachers at SBCS to help students on an individual basis.
Mary Rebecca Thomson (Ms. Becky) Click here for Ms. Becky's bio and art page.
Lauren Lipcon (Ms. Lipcon) is a native of Massachusetts. She has lived in Baltimore since 2005 and has been part of the SBCS team since the school first opened. She has a bachelors degree in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University. After college, Ms. Lipcon taught in Chicago as part of the Teach For America program. She has taught first and second grade and is now teaching art. Her professional interests include balanced literacy, brain-based learning, and arts integration, and she feels these interests are strongly supported by the mission and vision of SBCS. In her free time, Ms. Lipcon enjoys traveling, running, surfing, painting and reading. She loves children and is proud to call SBCS her professional home!
Gay Claudio (Ms. Claudio) grew up in the Philippines and taught there for 14 years. She came to the U.S. in 2005 and has been with SBCS since August of that year. She graduated from the Philippine Normal University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She attended graduate school majoring in Reading at the Ateneo de Manila University. She finished post-baccalaureate in Special Education at the University of Perpetual Help. She has worked with students ranging from Kindergarten to Fourth Grade. Ms. Claudio has 3 daughters. Two of them are in SBCS: Athena (5th Grade) and Sophie (Kindergarten). Her youngest daughter is 1-year-old Amy.
Jeremy Smith (Mr. Jeremy) is elated to join the incredible staff at SBCS. He grew up in Vermont and enjoys visiting as often as possible. He graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Psychology in 2003 and completed his Master's in Leadership and Teaching in 2009. He has taught in Baltimore City for the past 3 years and is dual-certified in both special and elementary education. He will be the Intermediate Special Educator at SBCS and looks forward to an amazing school year. In his spare time, Mr. Jeremy enjoys a variety of sports and outdoor activities and includes his two dogs in these activities as often as possible.
Myrna Nazarro (Ms. Nazarro)
Dawood Thomas (Mr. Dawood) is a native of Baltimore who believes his dream has come true in finding a job that he loves! He has over 15 years experience working with youth as our student support coordinator as well as a community activist. He also works in the parks and recreation department in his spare time. He earned his AA at Baltimore City Community College in general studies and 48 credits in Behavioral Science at Mt. Aloysius College in Pennsylvania. In his free time, he loves sports (especially basketball), seafood, cartoons, and reading non-fiction books. Mr. Thomas has two daughters; one in high school and the other is a current student at SBCS.
Beth Clark (Ms. Clark) grew up and went to school in New York State. She moved here to Baltimore, Maryland to teach first grade. Miss Clark continues her work with primary grades as a first and second grade math teacher. She loves walking her dog, water sports, and anything outside!
Carolyn Dryden (Ms. Dryden) is in her fifth year at SBCS. Presently teaching second grade, she previously taught kindergarten at SBCS. Ms. Dryden has taught preschool through fifth grade in Baltimore City Public Schools and independent schools, and is thrilled to be part of the charter school movement in Maryland. She graduated from Towson University with a degree in Early Childhood Education, and completed a M. S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola College. Ms. Dryden is the proud mother of a college-aged son. In addition to teaching, she enjoys her two dogs and cat, reading, and quilting.
Dan Sliwinski (Mr. Sliwinski) has been at SBCS since its inception in 2005 and has the distinction of being the only staff member to teach every grade and every subject in the entire school! This year he will add the role of Technology teacher to that diverse list as well as provide support to the 4th and 5th grade math classes. He is the designer of the school newsletter and has also spearheaded the Let's All Take Computers Home(L@TCH) program that will continue to grow this year.
Mr. Sliwinski came to us with an extensive background working with children. He coached youth baseball and basketball in the Chicagoland area since the age of 16. He earned his BA with honors in Graphic Design at Robert Morris College and recently finished a math lead teacher graduate certificate at Johns Hopkins University. He also worked at a printing company for three years where he designed some promotional items for the Broadway play Chicago among other things. He enjoys coming to work everyday and is looking forward to the many roles he has during this new school year. Mr. Sliwinski has a wife, Marie Anne, and a two year old daughter, Tiggy. In his free time, he likes to freelance as a graphic designer, ride his bike, run, teach himself rock music on the electric guitar and cheer for his beloved Detroit Lions!
Leanne Gibson (Ms. Gibson) is excited to be a first year member of SBCS! She grew up in a small town in New Jersey and ventured her way out to Pittsburgh, where she earned her degree in Elementary Education, at Duquesne University, which she graduated from in 2008. She moved to Baltimore last year and worked as an after school leader and a nanny, and is VERY excited to start her career here working with Miss Clark in 1st and 2nd grade math.
In her free time, she enjoys taking her new (spoiled rotten) dog on walks and to the park. She also enjoys reading, relaxing, and watching sports.
Anthony Bianca (Mr. Tony)is extremely excited to be joining the SBCS family this year as the music teacher. After graduating from Loyola College with a bachelors degree in vocal music and studying at St. Mary's Seminary and University, Mr. Tony went on to become a teacher. In his 11 years teaching, Mr. Tony has worked at the elementary, middle and high school levels teaching music, theatre and theology. Additionally, he has 9 years experience as both an elementary and high school Campus Minister. In addition to his teaching career, Mr. Tony is also a professional musician. He directs the Baltimore Men's Chorus and is the lead tenor at Ss. Philip and James Church and Har Sinai Congregation. In his fee time, Mr. Tony loves to read, watch movies, take long walks and listen to his i-pod.
