About PISOTA

As a tuition-free public charter school, Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) operates in partnership with Charles County Public Schools to offer students an arts and international-focused school. Our approach prepares young people for leadership in a global and creative world.

Check out our MSDE Profile


We nurture 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students in Charles County, Maryland, to become globally-minded artists, innovators, and leaders

Community Partners & SUPPORTERS

As a tuition-free public school, we welcome all middle school students, including those with disabilities and multilingual learners. Every day, students are immersed in our rich arts curriculum, with opportunities to explore dance, music, acting, and visual arts.

Our unique approach also integrates a global perspective into all subjects, helping students develop a deeper understanding of the world. By embracing diverse viewpoints, we equip our students to tackle complex challenges and create innovative solutions to make a positive impact.

Values

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Values *

As a part of our crew, you are a pioneer working to forge a new path for all of our future scholars, staff, and partners. Your unique perspective and expertise will be key in shaping both your role and the broader PISOTA community. Our commitment to these core values and mindsets will serve as the foundation for a lasting legacy within our organization. Like the phoenix, we RISE.

  • Reflect

    We take time to regularly examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

    We have to know where we come from in order to know where we’re going. “The one constant factor in all of your endeavors is yourself”; we believe that understanding ourselves is therefore paramount. Our ability to recognize and understand emotions in ourselves and others, and our ability to use this awareness to manage our behavior and relationships will increase our individual and collective leadership capacities.

  • Innovate

    We cultivate a spirit of curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

    Our students are confident critical thinkers. They have the skills, character, knowledge and design process to impact the world with their ideas and creativity. By thinking broadly about the world around them and engaging in meaningful and relevant real-world experiences, they learn to address problems at all scales, imagine new ideas, and build authentic solutions

  • Serve

    We do whatever it takes in service of our mission.

    For our students, this means becoming true change agents in their community by embracing a spirit of selfless service. We see service as inherent to both scholarship and citizenship, and we commit to helping our community, both in school and out of school. For PISOTA staff, our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we consider our work an act of service to our students, their families, our community, and ourselves. We do not engage in service for personal gain or external accolades; rather, we do so because serving others is the right thing to do.

  • Excellence

    We aim for high-quality and exemplary attention to detail in everything we do.

    From students’ schoolwork to school culture and behavior to staff lesson planning and beyond, we hold high expectations of everyone at PISOTA. In turn, we hold ourselves accountable to provide excellent support, care, and view challenges or setbacks as opportunities to grow and learn. We celebrate our own successes and those of others when we achieve lofty goals.

Our Crew

Principal

  • Bio coming soon.

Assistant Principal

  • Mr. Hill began his career with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in 2017 as the visual art teacher at Mary B. Neal Elementary School, where he taught until 2019. He then served as vice principal at Berry Elementary School for four years, followed by two years as assistant principal at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School. He was most recently appointed assistant principal at the Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) in 2025.

    Mr. Hill’s career in education began in 1999 in Washington, D.C., where he taught visual art at both the elementary and middle school levels for District of Columbia Public Schools. During his tenure there, he was honored with the Mayor’s Award for Art Education and was named Teacher of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in 2015.

    He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA), a Master of Arts in Art Education from the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL), and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration from Trinity University (Washington, D.C.).

    When he is away from his various educational roles, Mr. Hill serves as a college football referee for the Central Collegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is an educator’s educator: his passion for education is reflected in his family, as all four of his daughters work in public schools within the state of Maryland in some capacity.

Our Faculty + Staff

  • Ben Adelberg

    Band and Orchestra Teacher

  • Chioma Okoronkwo

    Science Teacher

  • Deandre Barnes

    Building Services

  • Michelle Countee

    Professional School Counselor

  • Krystle Duehring

    Secretary to the Principal

  • Stacee Gans

    Food Services

  • Daniel Goldring

    Building Services Manager

  • Robyn Harrison

    Math Teacher

  • Darren Williams

    Administrative Instructional Assistant

  • Elijah Hawkins

    Math Teacher

  • Rachelle Hopkins

    Special Education Instructional Assistant

  • Sadé Jackson

    Special Education Teacher

  • Damaris Moore

    Theatre and ELA Teacher

  • Lisette Mitchell

    Chorus and Crew Teacher

  • Nathan Tate

    Social Studies Teacher

  • Regina Mundi, RN, BSN

    School Nurse

  • Andie Prabhakara

    Spanish/French Teacher

  • Janelle Rutledge

    Food Service Manager

  • Tia Sasser

    Founding Science Teacher

  • Rainna Somerville

    English Language Arts Teacher

  • Robbin Tasha-Ford

    Dance Teacher

  • Corey Levenberry

    PE and Global Perspectives Teacher

  • Natasha Washington

    English Language Arts Teacher

Board of Trustees

Board Calendar

  • Board Vice-Chair + MD, FAAP, Co-Owner, General Pediatrician, PM Kidz Pediatric Primary + Acute Care Clinic

    Dr. CharlRe’ Slaughter-Atiemo is a board-certified Pediatrician in southern Maryland and co-owner of PM Kidz Pediatric Primary and Acute Care clinics, and PM Kidz Plus Mental Health Clinic. She is also the founder and CEO of CayTer 2 You Baby, a baby vending service. A native of Atlanta, GA, Dr. Slaughter-Atiemo earned her Bachelor of Science at Cornell University and her Doctor of Medicine from Morehouse School of Medicine, graduating cum laude. She completed her Pediatric Residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA. Recognized for her work with honors such as membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society and the Otis W. Smith, MD Excellence in Pediatrics award, Dr. Slaughter-Atiemo is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and brings over 16 years of experience in diverse pediatric care settings. Most recently, she received the 2024 Top Doctor Award for Pediatricians in Southern Maryland. In 2020, she launched PM Kidz, a multispecialty pediatric practice in Maryland, offering services including well-child care, cardiology, speech therapy, and mental health. She expanded the practice with a second location and a mental health clinic in 2023. Dr. Slaughter-Atiemo is active in several organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, and she serves on the Board of Trustees for Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA). In her free time, she enjoys family time, cooking, reading, and traveling.

  • Director, Events Operations and Experience, ASCD

Interested in joining the Board of Trustees? Please email your resume to Ms. Jackson at AJackson@pisota.org.

  • Management and Program Analyst, United States Federal Government

  • LCP and Owner, Purple Cares Therapeutic Solutions, Inc.

  • Elementary Educator and Teacher Development Coach

  • General Manager, Harris Companies