Board of Directors

Cheryl Bost has been an elementary classroom teacher in Baltimore County for more than 25 years. She is currently on leave to serve as MSEA president. Bost began as president on August 1, 2018.

Bost was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Edinboro University, earning a BS degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. In 1989, Bost came to Maryland to begin her teaching career in Baltimore County Public Schools. She taught fourth grade for 14 years at Mars Estates Elementary, a Title I school, as well as fifth grade at Prettyboy Elementary. In 2003, Bost was named Baltimore County’s Teacher of the Year and was a state finalist. While teaching at Mars Estates, she started a summer camp for disadvantaged youth (grades 3-5) that included camping, swimming, and community service.

Bost comes from a strong union family. Her great-grandfather’s building in Homestead, Pennsylvania served as the headquarters for U.S. Steelworkers during the strike in 1892. Her grandfather was a union steward in the U.S. Steel mill, and her father retired as an air traffic controller during the Federal Aviation Administration strike under President Reagan after a 25-year career.

Bost has served in various leadership positions in the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, including membership committee chair, Board of Directors, vice president, and eight years as president. Bost was instrumental in bringing SPARKS, a program for new employees started in Washington State, to Baltimore County and counties throughout the state. As MSEA vice president, Bost led MSEA’s work with the State Board and legislators on the Every Student Succeeds Act state plan and implementation, and has been appointed to serve a four year term on the Maryland Education Development Collaborative Governing Board.  In addition to her leadership and advocacy for public education, Bost is a strong activist for the Polycystic Kidney Foundation and Donate Life.

Bost resides in Carney, Maryland, but keeps close ties with her family in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

Theresa Mitchell Dudley has evolved from being a substitute teacher, to an elementary classroom teacher, eventually landing as a middle school teacher. Her union activism includes service as a building representative, Membership Committee, and PGCEA board member, vice president and president. Theresa now serves as MSEA vice president. She is the mother of Joyce and Alfred Dudley.

Joe Coughlin is a computer support technician with the Baltimore County Schools. He began his term as MSEA treasurer on September 1, 2017.

Joe was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, attended Baltimore County Public Schools, and graduated from Woodlawn Senior High School in 1976. Since graduating from Catonsville Community College with a degree in computer science, Joe has worked in the computer field in government and private industry for more than 30 years.

Joe has served in various positions in his local, the Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County, including as president and member of the board of directors, and as a member on the negotiations, government relations (chair), and membership (chair) committees. He has also served as a member of the MSEA budget, negotiations, and leadership development committees, and was a member of the MSEA Board of Directors for five years. He has completed MSEA’s Emerging Leaders Academy and NEA’s ESP Leaders for Tomorrow.

Joe continues to help his community as a hospice volunteer. He resides in Ellicott City with his wife, Mary, and their dog, Bannie.

Veronica Henderson is a proud education support professional in Baltimore County Public Schools. She holds a Masters plus 30, is a lifetime member of Psi Chi, and listed in “Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities & Colleges.” She is Maryland’s first national ESP of the Year and a recognized local, state and national trainer, and adjunct professor. Veronica has served two terms on the NEA Board and NEA Resolutions, and several terms on the MSEA Board. Her multiple terms on her local board (ESPBC) include serving as secretary and vice president, and she continues to be a building rep. Her association experiences includes advocacy for the students we all serve, for our members, and for the profession of education at all levels. Her list of local, state, and national association committees is varied and extensive. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her advocacy in the field of education at the local, state, and national levels. She also received an eight-year gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Judicial Nominations Commission for Baltimore City. She took an MSEA grant writing training and wrote her first grant issued in excess of $450,000 for her Little League. Veronica is the wife of James R. Henderson, Jr., and the proud mother of James R. Henderson, III and Stacie V. Henderson.

Felixberto S. Lazaro has been a special educator for 13 years with Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). He has been teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities. He has a passion for teaching his students to become equipped in their functional and social live when they exit the school system at age 21.

Felix was born and raised in the Philippines and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from the University of the Philippines. He worked for the government and the private sector while in the country for almost three decades, prior to his whole family migrating to the United States in 2005.

In 2008, Felix was recruited by PGCPS via the resident teacher program. After finishing his Master’s in Special Education at the Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) in 2011, he received his Post-Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from NDMU. He became an active PGCEA member through his involvement in the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) in his school and thereafter became the building representative/chair of the FAC until his election to the PGCEA Board of Directors in 2018. He is now in his second term as a member of the PGCEA Board.

His involvement in PGCEA has included his co-chairmanship of the Membership Committee and serving as a member of the Minority Affairs Committee, PGCEA Grassroots Organizing (GO) Team, Bargaining for the Common Good, and the contract bargaining negotiation team of PGCEA. He has been visible in the local association’s advocacy initiatives for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and Black Lives Matter. As part of his community service, he is the chair of the Philippine Multicultural Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland and one of the Multicultural Commissioners under the Prince George’s County States Attorney’s Office.

Currently, he lives in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and enjoys gardening and taking care of the persimmon, fig, and cherry trees in his backyard. He is passionate about enhancing the involvement and participation of minority members.

Colleen Morris has been an elementary classroom teacher in Howard County for more than 25 years. She is currently on leave to serve as HCEA president from 2017 through 2023. As the president of a merged local with NEA grants that support all of our educators, Morris is working on solutions for members around their concerns related to student discipline and restorative justice. Morris grew up in Howard County learning from amazing HCPSS educators. After earning a degree in Early Childhood she returned to HCPSS to become a teacher, following in her mother’s footsteps. Her career was spent in Title One schools teaching Pre-K through 3rd grade. She became involved with the HCEA negotiating stronger contracts for over two decades. Union beliefs around access to working conditions and benefits need to be applied consistently across our organization. Union family has been in Morris’ blood. Her grandfathers worked in the coal mines in Lackawanna County, PA and she grew up as part of that union family. Creating strong governance structures that include policies, procedures, and data management systems to ensure we will be equipped to effectively engage our members in our mission. Our amazing leaders advocate for public education on a daily basis because our kids and educators can’t wait!

Philimena Owona, an educator for over 20 years, resides in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and is employed by Prince George’s County Public Schools. Currently, she serves as a Classroom Teacher, Parent University Coordinator, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coach. In PGCEA, her local association, she serves on the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC), MSEA Grassroots Organizing (GO) Team, and as Co-Chair of the SPARKS Committee. Philimena is passionate about building educators’ capacity through leadership programs and inspiring activism in our association. She is the 2019 NEA Leaders of Color Pathway Program fellow. She was born in Liberia, West Africa, and immigrated to the United States at age 15. She graduated from Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, New York in 1993. She received her undergraduate degree in Urban Legal Studies from City College, of The City University of New York in 1997; a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Howard University in 1999; and her Post-Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University in 2017. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Education, specializing in Global Training and Development. She is a wife of 24 years and a mother of four precious children. She enjoys writing and helping people by volunteering. She brings foresight and commitment to MSEA’s drive for educational advocacy.

Michelle Alexander is a library media specialist with the Montgomery County Public School System. In addition to serving on the MSEA Board of Directors, she also is a member of the Montgomery County Educator’s Association Human and Civil Rights Committee and serves as the MSEA Board liaison to the MSEA Human and Civil Rights Committee. She recently completed the NEA Peace Circle Training with the Advancement Project.

Michelle grew up in Howard County. After graduating from Wilde Lake High School, she attended Tuskegee Institute receiving a Bachelor of Science in animal science. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Howard University, a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from University of Maryland, and a Juris Doctorate from University of Baltimore School of Law.  She earned her certificate in administration and supervision from Towson University.

The daughter of two teachers, her mother served as a building rep in Detroit, Oakland, and Howard County public schools and later as a central office rep in Howard County. Her father retired as director of elementary schools in Howard County, mentoring many administrators, notably women and African Americans.

She has been a delegate several years to the National Education Association (NEA) and MSEA conventions, and co-sponsored a resolution addressing restorative practices in 2014. Has served on the MSEA Minority Affairs Committee; Montgomery County Educators Association (MCEA) Political Action and Legislative Support Committee, Human and Civil Rights Committee; and is second vice president of the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society, Lamda Chapter.

She resides in Columbia, Maryland where she enjoys time with family.

Tanya Johnson Martin is a middle school reading specialist and reading team leader with the Howard County Public School System. Tanya is a member of the Howard County Education Association and has held several leadership positions within the county. Tanya is looking forward to utilizing her leadership strengths as she works with the NEA board of directors and MSEA members and leaders to continue our focus on topics that are important in education.

Tanya grew up in Baltimore County and attended public school there, graduating from Randallstown High School in 1989. In 1995, Tanya graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Tanya graduated from Loyola College of Maryland in 1999 with a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction. Several years later, she attended Loyola University of Maryland, where she earned her Reading Specialist credentials. Tanya resides in Owing Mills with her husband, Reginald, and their dog, CC.

In 2002, Matt graduated from the University of Indiana Pennsylvania. He was recruited by Wicomico County to teach 6th grade social studies. Matt transferred to JMB High School where he taught American Government in 2005. Matt received the Mentor Teacher of the Year Award from Salisbury University in 2007. Matt relocated to central Maryland where he has taught social studies at Reservoir High School since 2007. Matt earned his master’s in curriculum and instruction from McDaniel College in 2010. Matt has chaired the Government Relations Committee for the Howard County Education Association and ran for the Baltimore County Board of Education in 2018. Matt won the Gilder Lehrman Maryland History Teacher of the Year Award in 2020.

Sean Johnson has been with the Maryland State Education Association since 2010, initially serving as the association’s Assistant Executive Director for Political and Legislative Affairs, serving as the chief lobbyist and political director. He took over as Executive Director in September 2020.

Prior to coming to MSEA, Sean served as the Senior Campaign Specialist in the Campaigns and Elections Department at the National Education Association (NEA). He returned to NEA during the 2016 election cycle to manage the Association’s presidential campaign effort.

Sean has 24 years of campaign experience, managing and serving on staff of various local, state and national campaigns.  He also has extensive background in organizing, message development, and strategic communications through his years as a political organizer and campaign consultant.

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Sean earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University.