Ever wonder who in Greenbelt recognizes those heroes among us working to feed and support our children, train and inspire future leaders, and day in, day out, bring care and dedication to the education of the nation? Well, wonder no more, it’s ACE! (Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Education).
Since its inception in 1994, ACE has served as a critical link between the community and council, working to provide expert local insight, direct educational grants and celebrate excellence in education through its annual Educator Awards.
On March 18, the Greenbelt City Council gathered alongside teachers, administrators and community members to recognize, cheer and thank this year’s worthy recipients of ACE’s 2026 Educator Awards. Presented to those demonstrating extraordinary contributions to Greenbelt schools, ACE’s 2026 awardees, chosen from among those nominated by each school’s administration, are recognized for their exemplary work in cultivating effective, authentic and welcoming learning environments.
In addition to accolades and well-deserved gratitude, this year’s honorees received an engraved red and gold apple, a Greenbelt ACE T-shirt and an invitation to march in the 2026 Greenbelt Labor Day Parade.
This year, six worthy individuals were selected for Educator Awards. They are:
Greenbelt Elementary School: Lisa Holinsworth
Lisa Holinsworth, a Math, Science and Talented and Gifted (TAG) teacher of 22 years, demonstrates an unwavering commitment to academic excellence underpinned by a deep-rooted connection to Greenbelt and a passion for fostering love of learning. Holinsworth’s STEM instruction is complemented by a unique ability to make complex concepts engaging and to empower students to think critically and creatively. Outside of class, Holinsworth serves as a role model to her colleagues, while her continued commitment to cultivating curious minds has touched generations of Greenbelt families.
Springhill Lake Elementary: Lydia Swindell
A teacher at Springhill Lake Elementary for the past 18 years, Swindell is a strategic thinker and natural communicator. Deftly juggling the demands of her leadership roles as Science/STEM coordinator and grade level chair with her teaching duties, Swindell’s classroom is an exciting place to learn. Weaving personal stories throughout her lesson objectives to create engaging and meaningful experiences for her students, she peppers her lessons with multilingual phrases and culturally relevant resources to help her students “see themselves” in the curriculum.
Magnolia Elementary School: Elizabeth Knudson
In August 2025, Elizabeth Knudson, an educator with 25 years of experience, walked into a library that was outdated and in need of attention. Within a few weeks, she transformed the space and rejuvenated a beloved school treasure. Shelves are now stocked with a variety of texts while inviting displays bring in hundreds of book borrowers per month. Less than one year in as the school’s Library Media Specialist her creativity, organizational skills and initiative are already appreciated by students, staff and parents.
Dora Kennedy French Immersion (DKFI): Fafavi Peace Segbor Mensah
Fafavi Segbor’s 31-year career in education, most of those in Prince George’s County Public Schools, reflects a legacy of excellence, leadership and unwavering commitment to student achievement. As a teacher and math coach at DKFI, she plays a pivotal role in sustaining the school’s 5-Star Maryland State Department of Education designation. Beyond classroom instruction, Segbor co-facilitated the development and implementation of DKFI’s School Performance Plan, ensuring that data-driven strategies translated into measurable gains in teaching quality and student outcomes.
Greenbelt Middle School (GMS): Camille Farrah Burke Butler
Camille Butler has held many key positions at GMS, including Reading / English / Language Arts Teacher, Instructional Lead Teacher and now Assistant Principal, where she is currently acting in the absence of Principal Clement. Known for leading with both head and heart, Butler also contributes to the Greenbelt community through acts of service with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, an activity she has continued despite experiencing the loss of her father this year.
Eleanor Roosevelt High School: Matthew Levy
Consistently supporting the academic, social and emotional growth of his students, Levy serves as Social Studies Department Chairperson, teaching local, state and national Government and World History. Levy also supports his colleagues through his role on the Professional Development Lead Teacher team, as well as working to ensure smooth classroom operations, often behind the scenes.
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the ACE Educator Awards, and a sincere thank you for the profound impact you’ve made on the lives of aspiring Greenbelters.
Do you love celebrating excellence? There’s an ACE students awards event coming up in May.
Members of ACE include Chair Janet Mirsky, Annette Davis, Troi Dixon, Denna Lambert, Gulnura Rakhyshova and Robert Snyder, as well as council liaison Jenni Pompi and staff liaison Liz Park.
If you have gifts, talents or enthusiasm for high quality schools, consider joining or volunteering with ACE. Meetings are 6:30 p.m. every fourth Thursday in the Municipal Building.
