Watershed Public Charter School has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Teach For
America Baltimore’s Courtney Cass Catalyst Fund.
The grant fund was created by Teach For America Baltimore to honor the legacy of its former executive
director, Courtney Cass, and support Teach For America Baltimore alumni as they create innovations to
support students’ academic success.
Watershed Assistant Principal Rachel Mejibovsky, a Teach For America Baltimore alum, developed and
submitted the grant application on behalf of the school. The funds will be used to purchase the socialemotional curriculum Move This World and to cover the cost of training, parental resources, and related
materials for the next three school years as Watershed expands from an elementary school to an
elementary-middle school. The social-emotional curriculum is expected to impact nearly 400 students
enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 8.
In writing to Mejibovsky about the grant award, Normandi Amprey, Teach For America Baltimore’s
executive director, described Mejibovsky’s proposal as “catalyzing” and “poised to make an impact in
Baltimore.”
“Winning this grant award will help Watershed continue to strengthen our curriculum and enhance
student progress,” said Watershed Principal Lori Widney. “Social-emotional learning is incredibly
important to student growth. Watershed is excited to use this program to connect students, teachers,
and families with actionable steps to manage emotions and peer conflict. This grant will help us add to
our project-based, environmental, arts-integrated curriculum and enhance our ability to teach the whole
child. Ms. Mejibovsky’s previous experience with Teach For America has been a wonderful community
partnership that continues to support the education of Baltimore County students.”
In her application, Mejibovsky noted that, as Baltimore County’s only public charter school, Watershed
currently serves 287 students from 20 different ZIP codes, and that therefore the school has a singular
opportunity to reach the larger community.
A native of Iowa, Mejibovsky began her teaching career as a 2011 Teach For America corps member at
REACH! Partnership School in Baltimore City. She has worked in both public and private schools in the
Baltimore area, serving as a K-8 teacher, coach, and assistant principal. Her experience with curriculum
writing and cross-disciplinary instruction brought her to Watershed Public Charter School in 2021. She
holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Central College and a master’s degree in
educational studies and administration from Johns Hopkins University
