Staff

Elizabeth will be working as a UniServ Director in Southern Maryland and spending time with EACC in Charles County. Elizabeth has a history of union experience back in her home state of Florida. She most recently worked as a Lead Membership Organizer for her local union, the Polk Education Association in Bartow, Florida. Elizabeth’s prior experience was in the classroom; she was a Social Studies Teacher in Florida for over 16 years. Elizabeth served on local and state membership committees, as a local building representative, on a local executive board, legislative committee, bargaining team, and was part of the Florida Young Remarkable Educators (FYRE) Cadre. Elizabeth sought to further grow her experiences in preparation for the UniServ Director position by participating in NEA’s Pre-UniServ Academy.  Elizabeth has been actively involved and at the forefront of work to maintain a strong union following Florida’s 2023 anti-union legislation that eliminated dues deduction from payroll and requires unions to maintain 60% dues paying members to remain recognized.  Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies Education from University of North Florida, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of South Florida, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from University of South Florida.

Joel Berger will be working as a UniServ Director in Southern Maryland and spending time at EACC.  A Detroit native, Joel was a teacher and union leader during a time when the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) was under a state takeover and emergency financial management, which came with a myriad of issues.  He was part of strategic lobbying efforts to gain support from legislators outside of Detroit to support funding for DPS. In his role as a Detroit Federation of Teachers Executive Board member, he visited schools in his district for relational organizing work and to provide support addressing issues.  Joel has also completed internships with both the NEA and AFT working on educational research and communications projects. Joel earned a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an M.A. in History from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.  He is a doctoral candidate in History at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and is working on his dissertation, “Teachers Want What Children Need: The Detroit Federation of Teachers from Civil Rights to Neoliberalism.”

Dan was a police officer from 1984 until 2011. From 1989 until his retirement Dan was involved with his union holding positions of President, Secretary, V.P., Trustee, Retirement Representative, PAC Chair and Chief Negotiator/Negotiation Team Member. Upon retiring Dan went to work for ACE-AFSCME Local 2250/MSEA as the Executive Director representing 5,000 education support professionals in Prince George’s County Public Schools from 2011 to 2013. From 2013 to 2014 Dan was the Executive Director for the South Dakota Education Association which represents 6,000 K-12 certified and support staff and several higher education institution staff. Dan returned to Maryland in 2014 where he now works for MSEA representing 9 administrative and supervisor units (Unit II) throughout the state.

I have been the Administrative Assistant for the EACC since 2014.  I am the first point of contact when a member calls the office.

I have worked for a local printing company as a graphic designer/office assistant and with the Southern Maryland State Park Complex as an office assistant. I enjoy art, plants and spending time with family.  I love being by the water. It doesn’t matter if it is a beach, lake, stream or creek. Hearing waves though is the most healing sound for me.