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About MSDE
About MSDE > Pride MD Public Schools > Applause
Educators
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PRIDE salutes 2007 Teachers of the Year
CURRENT AWARD RECIPIENTS:
Thomas Acampora
Baltimore Talent Development High School
Baltimore City Public Schools
Nominated by Marcie Thoma, MSDE
- First year teacher, Thomas Acampora, applied for and received a Save Our History grant to restore 80 orchards of Carroll’s Hundred, a national historic landmark in Carroll Park. Thomas and his students completed the first phase of the project in the spring of 2006, and consequently received an additional grant and award from the History Channel. The objective of The Black Damask Project is to save significant African American history at the historical site by restoring and interpreting the 18th century landscape. Mr. Acampora and several students were invited to Washington, D.C. to accept the award.
Hortense Adams
Deerfield Run Elementary School
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- A sixth-grade teacher of 26 years, Hortense Adams, recently received the Christa McAuliffe Outstanding Teacher Award for her service to Prince George’s County Public School students. Her nomination letter for the award included Ms. Adams mantra: “Being a teacher is probably one of the most honorable and noble professions. We are training young people and training them to be what they want to be. I guess that’s why I’ve been teaching for so long. There is nothing like being a teacher.”
Joyce Erb-Appleman
Teacher
Berwyn Heights Elementary School
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Nominated by Members of the Community
- Joyce Erb-Appleman, a third-grade teacher at Berwyn Heights Elementary School, has been selected to receive the 2007 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award for Prince George’s County. The Agnes Meyer Award is presented annually to one teacher from each Washington metropolitan area school district.
Charlie Benjamin
Instructor
Occupational Skills Training Center (OSTC)
Nominated by MSDE
- Charlie Benjamin, an instructor at The Occupational Skills Training Center in Baltimore City and the only school in the Correctional Education Program dedicated solely to occupational preparation, received an Innovation in Continuing Education Award from The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF) - an international, non-profit organization dedicated to the document management and communications marketplace. The school’s Printing/Graphic Arts program was the first in Maryland to receive the prestigious industry accreditation in PrintEd. Students in Mr. Benjamin’s program receive entry-level training in all aspects of graphic communications. The 2007 Excellence in Education and Education of the Year Awards honor worldwide academic institutions and professional organizations for their educational and innovative efforts relating to the document management and communications industry. Recipients address industry issues, reflect state-of-the-art technology and benefit the industry through their programs.
James Hubert Blake High School Teachers
Montgomery County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Two James Hubert Blake High School teachers received Leadership Awards from the Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust in partnership with the Education Technology Think Tank. Barbara Jeweler received an award for pioneering technology literacy through media production, and Raquel Marshall received an award for expanding minority participation in engineering and technology careers. Each award recipient has embraced pioneering paradigms that create opportunity for students to receive the rich teaching and learning environments needed in the 21st century, and network with leaders in the African American community. Both teachers were honored in Washington, D.C.
Dale K. Brown, I
Principal, Lockerman Middle School
Caroline County Public Schools
Nominated by David Stevens
- Mr. Dale Brown, I, principal of Lockerman Middle School, is being honored for his tireless advocacy to students, community and families of Lockerman, and his hands-on, overnight, week-long participation at the NorthBay Environmental Learning Center in January 2007.
Elvira Brundage
Glenarden Woods Elementary School
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Nominated by Cecelia E. Jones-Bowlding
- Elvira Brundage, a first-grade teacher at Glenarden Woods Elementary School, reaches into the soul of a young reader and opens the world of what it means to read. For the last three years, her first-grade students read, annually, more than 1,000 books every first quarter of the school year. Her classroom is print enriched and every corner offers a learning opportunity for her students. It is filled with activities that help the struggling reader and unlocks a world of adventure for the solid reader. Mrs. Brundage’s enthusiasm about teaching creates the energy that makes her students want to learn more. In addition, she is a teacher who also supports her students’ families; she tutors before and after school, and provides her parents with “homework workshops.” Mrs. Brundage is hailed as the “Wizard of Getting Students to Read and Getting Parents Involved in the Education Process.”
Michael Buckingham
Arundel High School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
-The Sandy Spring Bank, as part of its Community Champions Program, honored Michael Buckingham, a teacher at Arundel High School, for his work as a firefighter after having been nominated by the Anne Arundel Fire Department. In 2006 alone, Michael ran responses to 293 calls.
Ian Chisholm
Teacher, Chatsworth Elementary School
Baltimore County Public Schools
Nominated by Linda Esterson, Parent
- Ian Chisholm is recognized for his dedication to the success and emotional, social, and cognitive development of each and every student, while holding very high expectations for their academic performance, and garnering respect from every student he comes in contact with. For 10 of his 16 years in the educational field, Mr. Chisholm has been a ‘shining star’ in an outstanding Chatsworth School magnet program. In any of his free periods, he is with students in some capacity. We all look back on our childhood and fondly remember an educator who we will never forget because of their positive influence in our lives – he is that educator.
William H. Clay
School Counselor and ‘Men of Ardmore’ Founder
Ardmore Elementary School
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- William H. Clay, a counselor at Ardmore Elementary School, founded ‘Men of Ardmore’ in 2005, a school-based organization designed to promote leadership, improve grades and self-discipline among students. Thirty-two young males at Ardmore Elementary School meet three times a month, and learn to develop into strong, disciplined, and educated members of their school and communities. The in-school program teaches young men that they can be leaders and what to do to achieve leadership roles. “They join with the notion that they have obstacles to overcome, goals to achieve, and expectations to fulfill because in many cases, young black males lack role models and follow what they see on TV and in the media, which is 65 percent negative,” states Mr. Clay. The ‘Men of Ardmore’ program is credited for helping students to improve academically, socially, as well as in overall discipline areas such as anger management. African culture, social skills, role and responsibilities as black men, self-identity, slavery, anti-gang and anti-drug activities, music, and race relations are specific issues visited by the group. Acceptance into the program is based on school attendance, motivation, suspension rate, self-discipline, and the ability to complete homework.
Jennifer Clements
Assistant Principal
Mount Hebron High School
Nominated by MSDE
- Ms. Clements was named the Maryland State Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. She was chosen based on her collaborative leadership, curriculum instruction, and assessment and personalization. Ms. Clements is lauded by colleagues for being a personable leader who forges personalized relationships which help her to keep her finger on the pulse of personnel, students, and parents with whom she works.
Mat Clever
Physical Education Teacher,
Howard High School
Howard County Public Schools
Nominated by Jessica Pearsall, Howard County Public Schools
- Mr. Clever has a wonderful way of building a sense of community within the school and keeps the staff informed of the achievements of the students on the team he coaches. He is consistent in his rules and expectations.
Christopher Cobb
Winfield Elementary School
Carroll County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Christopher Cobb, Health Educator at Winfield Elementary School, was recently recognized for his innovative teaching strategies with a nomination for the 2007 National Fire Protection Association Teacher of the Year Award. Mr. Cobb was awarded for implementing two educational programs at Winfield Elementary School from the National Fire Protection Association.
Clayton Culp
Broadneck High School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Clayton Culp is the 2007-08 recipient of Teacher of the Year for Anne Arundel County. Mr. Culp teaches AP statistics, geometry, and algebra courses, working tirelessly to reach students of all skill levels and keep class interesting. Outside the classroom, the Severna Park native coaches the baseball team and is assistant coach for the football team. He also enjoys taking groups of student volunteers to New Orleans where, since 2006, he has taken three volunteer groups.
Cheree Davis
Teacher/Club Organizer
The Baltimore Talent Development High School
Baltimore City Public Schools
Nominated by Marcie Taylor-Thoma, MSDE
- Cheree Davis, a history teacher and club organizer at The Baltimore Talent Development High School in Baltimore City, formed the afterschool club – Youth4Change – through an Oprah Winfrey organization called “O” Ambassadors. Under her leadership, three student members in the club took part in a journey to India during the 2008 summer to study international education and participate in global volunteerism. Ms. Davis said she has always believed that students should volunteer their time in some way.
Gerald DeGrange, Principal
Brunswick Elementary School, Frederick County Public Schools
Nominated by JoAnne Carter, MSDE
- Mr. Gerald DeGrange is principal at Brunswick Elementary School in Frederick County. Under his leadership, the U.S. Department of Education recently applauded the school for reducing achievement gaps in both reading and math, as well as developing family-engagement strategies. Brunswick Elementary outpaced the county in terms of both parent and staff satisfaction with the school’s family and community involvement effort. Brunswick Elementary was the only school in Maryland chosen for this honor.
Judy Dent
Principal, Patuxent Elementary School
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Mrs. Dent has succeeded in closing the achievement gap. She has done this through various programs such as the Rallying the Village Initiative and, to date, this program has led to increased enrollment in the PTA, a parent liaison has been established in each classroom, there are parenting workshops for K-6, and fathers are meeting on a regular basis. In addition, 21 after-school programs have been established, the school is internationally recognized for environmental studies, and attendance has increased tremendously.
Ruth Eisenhour, Teacher
Harford Glen Environmental Education Center
Nominated by Dennis Kirkwood, Harford County Public Schools
- After many years of bringing nature to life for students, Ms. Eisenhour, an Environmental Science Teacher, has earned recognition. Ms. Eisenhour recently was named one of three Maryland finalists for an award from the National Science Foundation for science and math teachers. Ms. Eisenhour has been teaching for 19 years. There is a level of excitement she brings to her teaching every day that is her baseline; she loves life and she loves teaching.
Pam Engel
Glen Burnie High School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Pam Engel, chairwoman of the science department at Glen Burnie High School, became one of the first teachers in the nation to successfully complete the Geneticist-Educator Network of Alliances Certification. Ms. Engel studied how students can understand genetics better, and helped design materials to better prepare students to create, analyze, and form conclusions from the topic of family pedigrees with the goal of helping them more easily grasp the complex subject of genetics.
Elizabeth "Pokey" Fair
Sparks Elementary School
Baltimore County Public Schools
Nominated by Rebecca Bell, MSDE
- Ms. Elizabeth Fair, also known as “Sister Earth” and teaches students about the environment, was recognized as one of the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Environmental Education Teachers of the Year. This honor comes with a $2,500 monetary award from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. This award is special to Ms. Fair because it combines her passion for teaching with her passion for the environment. Eco-Sharks and Outdoor Learning Club programs, which are after-school programs for third through fifth grade students, allows students to take part in four different outdoor projects every spring. The Outdoor Learning Club takes students camping, hiking and participation in other outdoor activities. Approximately 100 students per year participate in Eco-Sharks with Ms. Fair.
R. Paul Foster
Sollers Point Technical High School
Baltimore County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Mr. Foster, a graphics arts teacher, is the recipient of the Education Awards of Excellence. The award is presented annually to one academic representative in recognition of outstanding contributions to education and training in the graphic arts. Mr. Foster has been teaching Graphic Communications for 7 years. Mr. Foster has helped teachers move forward with PrintEd, a national accreditation for graphic communications program. In 2005, Mr. Foster was named the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce High School Teacher of the Year.
Martin Freeman
School Resource Officer and Mentor
Former Professional Baseball Player
Annapolis Middle School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Officer Martin Freeman of the Anne Arundel County Police and School Resource Officer is channeling his love of sports to boys and girls at Annapolis Middle School. Officer Freeman has become a role model and mentor since arriving in the fall of 2007 and starting the after-school fitness program. Officer Freeman’s success in his new role, as much as in his old one, on the baseball diamond for the Detroit Tigers, led to his induction into the Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Arundel High School in Anne Arundel County. He attributes his accomplishments to confidence and athleticism. Officer Freeman, an African American, says he keeps in mind his potential to be a role model to many students, particularly Black males coming from homes without fathers. The after-school fitness class helps students gain confidence that comes through athleticism and develop them into more self-assured adults that make positive decisions.
Danielle Gofstein
Jacobsville Elementary School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- The Sandy Spring Bank, as part of its Community Champions Program, honored Danielle Gofstein, a 4th grade teacher at Jacobsville Elementary School, for her efforts to link American schools with schools in East Africa through the Kenya Connect Project.
Clare Grizzard
Roland Park Elementary/Middle School
Baltimore City Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Clare Grizzard, Arts Integration Specialist, was recently named a MetLife Foundation Ambassador in Education for her efforts to strengthen the ties that bind between schools and their surrounding communities. Just as Ms. Grizzard has been committed to instilling art into the school’s curriculum at every level, she has tried to develop strong relationships between the school and the parents, businesses, and organizations nearby. Clare Grizzard’s colleagues credit the warm environment of Roland Park Elementary in large part to her efforts.
Karen Gyolai
Enrichment Teacher, Bakerfield Elementary School
Harford County Public Schools
Simone Moran, Art Teacher, Bakerfield Elementary School
Harford County Public Schools
Nominated by Eric Cromwell, Coordinator of Accelerated Programs
Harford County Public Schools
- Mrs. Gyolai and Mrs. Moran team-taught the enrichment, art, and science activity, Edible Art Palette, to connect an art lesson to a science lesson and then apply it to the student’s real world. The students worked in teams to dye frosting in the primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and then created secondary colors (orange, green, purple). Finally, they frosted vanilla wafers, and once they checked for accuracy as related to the color chart, they ate them!
Kiara Delle Hargrove
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
Baltimore City Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Kiara Hargrove, a chemistry teacher at Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore City, is the 2007-2008 Milken Award recipient. Ms. Hargrove attended the Milken National Education Conference in Los Angeles and collected $25K in prize money. She was one of only two Marylanders among the 75 recipients for the 2007—2008 school year.
Jane Hatcher
New Market Middle School
Frederick County Public Schools
Nominated by Gwendolyn Dorsey, FCPS
- Jane Hatcher, Special Education teacher, is a true advocate for the special needs students in a variety of settings and situations at New Market Middle School. Ms. Hatcher co-teaches math and language arts, and actively shares the teaching objectives. She works with students in the classroom in a small group setting, pairs, or individually. Ms. Hatcher is excellent at modifying assignments and assessments for students who need that accommodation. In addition, Ms. Hatcher actively participates in the IEP meetings where she provides valuable information and insight about the students in her caseload. Ms. Hatcher is the epitome of the phrase, “teach with your heart and manage with your mind.” Her dedication and determination to help special needs students be successful and understood is a daily goal. She believes in her students and she teaches with her heart every day.
Celeste Hill
Crisis Intervention Teacher
Eisenhower Middle School
Prince George's County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Celeste Hill, a crisis intervention teacher at Eisenhower Middle School, formed Devine Intelligent Vigorous Awesome Students (DIVAS) – a group for eighth grade girls to not only talk about their problems, but to have a space to grow as outspoken leaders and become active in their communities. Ms. Hill says that she is transitioning girls to become young ladies for high school. DIVAS, the group of 30 girls with diverse backgrounds, continue into its second year. In order to become a member, participants must maintain a 3.0 GPA, have no discipline problems, and write an essay on why they want to become a DIVA. Ms. Hill encourages the girls to act like young ladies by dressing and behaving appropriately. All of the girls say that they now think about how they conduct themselves, and how to have respect for themselves, as well as for others.
Chris Horne, Ronnie Voigt, Jim Sniezek, Space Day Team Leaders Teachers,
Walkersville Elementary School
Frederick County Public Schools
Nominated by MSDE
- Thanks to the leadership of Mr. Horne, Mrs. Voigt, and Mr. Sniezek, two Space Day Teams from Walkersville Elementary School were the only winners in the entire state of Maryland to win at the International Space Day competition. Both teams won for their challenges as the “Best Overall” in a competition that included nearly 300 entries from 23 states and two countries. The Mighty Space Chefs created a menu for a pre-teen astronaut and had to consider the nutrition needed for a pre-teen in space including, calories, vitamins, and taste. The Golden Retrievers created a tool to retrieve things in space by grabbing it at a certain distance and having it retract back to them. The Team Leaders will join their students as they show their designs to NASA officials and receive their award at a ceremony hosted by Senator/Astronaut John Glenn.
Michael J. Iseman
Principal, Colonel Richardson Middle School
Caroline County Public Schools
Nominated by David Stevens
- Mr. Iseman, principal of Colonel Richardson Middle School, is being lauded for his selfless commitment to the students, his devotion to community and family, and his absolute be | | | | |