Member Spotlight: Ms. Stephanie McLeod – JCSU Class of 1982

Ms. Stephanie McLeod or Sydni Marie, as she prefers to be called, was born in Wurzburg, Germany at a US Army Hospital where her father was stationed during his time in service. Sydni and her two younger sisters spent most of their childhood in Washington, DC., but she also did some growing up in Los Angeles, California.  In 1963, while in California, Stephanie got the opportunity to participate in  Romper Room where she acquired her stage name ‘Sydni Marie’.
 
Ms. McLeod’s educational journal includes Our Lady Queen of Peace for grades 1 through 6, Carter G. Woodson Jr High for grades 7 through 9, and HD Woodson Sr. High for grades 10 through 12. After her high school graduation, Johnson C. Smith University was the HBCU of her choice. Here her talents really began to shine. She became a member of the MARC Honors Program,  the Lyceum Dance Ensemble, she made the Dean’s List all 4 years, and graduated Cum Laude earning a BS  in Computer Science. 1982 was an especially impressive year for Stephanie, she graduated ‘Cum Laude’, was 2nd attendant to Miss Johnson C. Smith(1982), and in the Spring of ’82 became a Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Ms. McLeod’s Johnson C. Smith University education prepared her to reach higher levels of academia. This includes Bowie State University where she earned a Masters (MS) in Secondary Education (2003), an Administrator I Certification at Catholic University (2007), and an Ed.D in Educational Leadership at Bowie State University (2021).
 
Ms. McLeod’s employment history demonstrates her academic preparedness for a variety of careers.  One of her first positions, in 1985, was that of a Researcher at Booz Allen & Hamilton.  In 1994, Ms. McLeod was employed as a Computer Trainer for the New Horizons Computer Learning Center. In 2003 and 2004, she was an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College. Starting in 1992, Ms. McLeod began the employment she presently holds which is that of a Math Teacher/Instructional Specialist and High School Supervisor for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
 
Presently, Ms. McLeod’s personal life is that of a mother and grandmother. She along with several other family members are carrying on a Johnson C. Smith family legacy. Ms. McLeod’s daughter is a 2014 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and both her grandmother and aunt are  graduates of JCSU.  Even Ms. McLeod’s mother  attended JCSU though it was only for her freshman year.
Ms. McLeod’s personal life also includes her religious affiliations.  In previous years, she  followed the Catholic and Presbyterian faiths however, her present  affiliations are now with the United Christian Church (UCC).

Locally, Ms. McLeod is a member of the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Nationally her involvements and member participations include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the National Association of Curriculum and Development, and the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics.