Critchlow Adkins Welcomes New Board Members

Great new beginnings are happening at Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers (CACC).  Not only is the organization celebrating the successful start of a new school year, it is welcoming eight new and returning members to its Board of Directors. 

“We are so happy to have many new – and a few returning – Board Members to our organization,” shares Critchlow Adkins Executive Director Cristy Morrell.  “Critchlow has served our community for more than 50 years because of the leadership and support of extraordinary people every step of the way, and our eight new and returning Board Members are no exception.  Each brings with them a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for Critchlow’s mission.  The educational and enriching childcare we provide is helping to build brighter futures for our children, families, and community.”

Julie Crocker returns to Critchlow’s Board, previously serving as a past Vice President and Board Chair.  She brings valuable historical knowledge and expertise in strategic planning, grant writing, budgets, development, and communications. Julie has a BS in nursing from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in nursing from University of Pennsylvania. For seventeen years, she served in various positions at Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care. From 2005 to 20015, she was the Executive Director at Talbot Hospice Foundation. In addition to her role at Critchlow, Julie’s community contributions include: Treasurer of the Talbot County Commission on Aging, past VP and current Board President at Londonderry Retirement Community, Festival of Trees Volunteer, Rotary of Easton, past Board member of Dixon House and Mid-Shore Mental Health Systems, Shore Leadership Class of 2004 and Leadership Maryland Class of 2008. She and her husband Michael live in Easton, and have two daughters and three grandsons residing in Stevensville, MD. 

Annie Mewborn is a school administrator at Easton Elementary School.  An experienced educator with over 15 years of experience, Ms. Mewborn is a United States Army combat veteran, Amazon international best-selling author, and life engagement coach. Ms. Mewborn earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Thomas Edison State University, a Master of Education, Learning, and Technology from Western Governors University, and an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education.  She earned her Administrator I endorsement and is completing her doctoral studies as well at American College of Education. Relocating from New Jersey to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Ms. Mewborn joined TCPS as a Reading Intervention Specialist for grades 6-8 in 2011.  She has taught secondary English at Easton Middle and Easton High School, respectively.  Ms. Mewborn also gained valuable experience as head of the English Department at the Manor Hall International School, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. She was recognized as Talbot County Teacher of the Year in 2016-2017 and the VFW Teacher of the Year in 2017. Annie is active in her school district and the Easton community.  She is a member of the Talbot Optimist Club, a former board member and Educational Director of the Frederick Honor Society, and currently, the 2nd Vice President of the Cambridge Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a mother, and grandmother, and enjoys advocating and empowering others. 

Zandi Nammack was born in Easton and attended The Country School. She has an AB in psychology, with Teaching Certification in Biology and General Science and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.  Zandi taught in Connecticut, then moved to Pennsylvania in 1982, where she taught, created schedules, and did course counseling at The Shipley School while also helping students from Philadelphia’s inner city to enroll in independent area schools.   In 2005, Zandi’s family moved to New Jersey, where she worked in admissions at Montclair Kimberly Academy.  Among other duties, she administered assessments, gave tours, coordinated classroom visits, and worked closely with the Student Services Committee.  In addition, she provided gratis SAT prep for students who could not afford a tutor, and helped with school fundraising.  She also volunteered at a New Jersey charter school, which provided excellent educational and social experiences to underserved children from Newark.  Zandi and her husband moved back to Easton in 2021.  

Cindy Orban was born and raised in Easton, Maryland, attended Talbot County Public Schools, and has lived and worked here most of her life. She credits her experiences as an exchange student in Germany following her junior year at Easton High and as a member of the first class of student pages in the Maryland General Assembly during senior year with having major impact on her world view. She spent eight years working at Crackerjacks Toy and Book Store and then joined the faculty of The Country School. She is now in her thirty-third year as librarian; she has been the DEI coordinator for many years, and is now also Alumni Coordinator at TCS. Cindy has served as an officer of the Talbot County Youth Soccer League, on the Board of the Choral Arts Society, as a trustee of The Country School, as statewide representative for the CTY program at Johns Hopkins, and on the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. She served on the Board of Critchlow Adkins over 30 years ago, and feels privileged to join the Board in this time of exciting growth and challenge.  

Barbara Oxnam has had an interesting and quite varied background.  She taught English at The Gunston School (where she also headed the International Students program), The Masters School, National Cathedral and Gateway Schools.  She was an Adjunct Professor at Anne Arundel Community College and Chesapeake College and has been a college placement consultant and SAT instructor at College Placement Consulting.  Before moving to Easton, she spent 17 years as a legal administrator at the Milbank Tweed law firm and the financial services firm TIAA in New York.  Barbara has served on several Boards including the Off-the-Record Lecture Series of the Foreign Policy Association (NY), the Akanksha Fund, Inc., which supports educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in India, and most recently Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers.  She also has been committee chairman and volunteer for various community organizations such as International Families (Scarsdale, NY), Habitat for Humanity (CT), Waterfowl, Plein Air, and Women and Girls Fund in Easton.

Becky Peter has more than 25 years of CFO experience in the Nonprofit and Government sector.  She has strong financial oversight, budgeting, strategic planning as well as extensive knowledge of policies and procedures. She worked for 16 years at Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care and spent several years at The Arc Central Chesapeake Region before retiring in July 2022. Becky has resided with her husband Andy on the Eastern Shore for more than 30 years.  She is a former board member for The Eastern Shore Hockey Association, Talbot Hospice Foundation, Talbot Humane Unleashed Charity Run and Shore Leadership Class of 2022.  

Charles Wrightson is a Senior Vice President/Sales Director with PNC Private Bank in Easton.  Charles graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 1992 with a B.A. degree in Government and Politics.  He worked previously as a Financial Advisor for Alex. Brown & Sons in Baltimore, MD and Janney Montgomery Scott in Easton, MD before joining Mercantile Bank and Trust (now PNC) in 2004.  Charles is a past President of Talbot Rotaract Club and has served on the Boards of Directors of Talbot Hospice and the Pickering Creek Audubon Center.  He currently serves as President of the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD.

Annie Witte Raymond, has lived in Maryland her entire life.  She grew up as one of six children sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, and has made the Eastern Shore her home for over 30 years. Annie has spent the majority of her career in industries focused on customer service. She began in the restaurant business at 17, eventually becoming a co-owner at Chesapeake Chicken and Rockin Ribs. Fifteen years ago, she turned her love of photography into a new business venture.  She is now a Real Estate agent with Long and Foster.  Annie lives here on the Shore with her fiancé Charlie and chocolate lab Frankie, and is the proud mother of her 24-year-old daughter Aggie.  In addition to joining Critchlow’s Board of Directors, she is a mentor with Talbot Mentors, VP of Talbot Optimist Club, and Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at the Mid-Shore Board of Realtors.

Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide quality, financially accessible childcare in a nurturing, diverse, safe, and enriching environment. CACC offers year-round preschool, Pre -K through 5th grade before- and after-school care, and summer camp programs at five Sites located throughout Talbot County.  

Critchlow Adkins also provides enrichment programming through their innovative, literature-based STEAM activities.  These fun projects teach children to use critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, and instill in them a love of learning through play.  Preschoolers at Critchlow Adkins’ Sites participate in the Raising a Reader Program.  Each week, students take home a bag of books to read with their family.  This program helps prepare children with the early literacy skills they need for kindergarten and encourages a lifelong love of reading.

All five Critchlow Adkins Sites are accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education and have achieved an EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care) Check Level 5 Rating – the highest possible rating awarded to Maryland childcare centers.  

CACC offers exceptional childcare, enrichment programs, and tuition assistance to local families with financial support from individuals, businesses, and foundations in Talbot County. To learn more, enroll your child, or make a donation, visit www.cacckids.org or call 410.822.8061.