School board honors top teachers, staff
On May 16, the Board of Education held a recognition ceremony to honor the people whose commitment to excellence contributes so much to the success of the Carroll County Public School System. Although it is impossible to share with you the accomplishments of all 95 employees who were honored, I would like to highlight a few of the recognitions.
Susan Adami, a teacher at Hampstead Elementary School, was named Carroll County's Teacher of the Year. She will go on to represent Carroll County as a candidate for the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program.
Brenda Bowers, Assistant in Public Information, is responsible for the publication of the Carroll County Public Schools Informational Calendar Handbook, which received the Award of Merit in the Chesapeake Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association publications contest.
Bruce Damasio, a social studies teacher at Liberty High School, received the Maryland Council for the Social Studies "Educator of the Year" award and was nominated for the 2002 National Council for the Social Studies Secondary Teacher of the Year Award.
Debra Elsen, a teacher at Manchester Elementary School, worked with the staff of the Teacher Curriculum Institute in Palo Alto, California, to prepare and publish History Alive! curriculum materials for students and teachers in grades K-3.
Barbara Guthrie, Supervisor of Guidance in the Pupil Services Department, received the 2001 Maryland State School Health Council Achievement Award and accepted the Outstanding Community Partner Award on behalf of the school system's Character Education Program from the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County.
Cheryl Held, a crisis intervention specialist at Gateway School, was selected as Carroll County's Adult Bright Star. She was chosen for playing a significant role in turning around the lives of students who were at-risk of school failure.
William Hill, Career Connections Coordinator for the Carroll County Career and Technology Center, received the 2002 American Association for Career Education Award. The Career Connections Program provides opportunities for Career and Technology Center students to explore and expand their career options.
John Holt, an English teacher at Westminster High School, was selected to receive a Middle States Regional Office Advanced Placement Recognition Award for outstanding teaching of Advanced Placement English. The award is given by The College Board to recognize exemplary teaching of AP courses.
Melba Justice, a mathematics teacher at West Middle School, is one of six Maryland teachers to be named a national Christa McAuliffe fellow by the Maryland State Department of Education. The six veteran teachers will be assisting the Maryland State Department of Education with its Maryland Initiative for New Teachers.
Allyson Lyga, a media specialist at Cranberry Station Elementary School, was named a Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar. This honor is given to only 200 educators across the nation. This award allows Allyson to spend three weeks next fall in Japan visiting schools and studying their educational system. She will also use this opportunity to learn more about "manga" - Japanese graphic novels which she plans to come back and share with others through presentations and a web page.
Thomasina Piercy, principal of Mt. Airy Elementary School, was instrumental in bringing the Not My Kid program to the county and tailoring it to meet the needs of the Carroll County community. Not My Kid is an organization that has been developed as a partnership among agencies that are concerned about juvenile crime and alcohol and drug usage, as well as other risk-taking behaviors.
Carol Schaper, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Sykesville Middle School, received the title of Fellow from the Maryland Student Service Alliance and participated in the 13th National Service Learning Conference by presenting the background and history of service learning in Maryland and detailing Carroll County's blended service-learning plan.
Shirley Sparkman, a cafeteria worker at New Windsor Middle School, was recognized as Carroll County's Heart of the Program award recipient as part of the Maryland School Food Service Association award program. The award recognizes outstanding food service employees who exhibit extraordinary commitment to the child nutrition program.
Melina Uram, a guidance counselor at Robert Moton Elementary School, received a Merit Award for Excellence in Minority Achievement from the Maryland State Department of Education for her outstanding efforts in helping to coordinate the County Elementary Leadership Conference.
I would like to offer congratulations to all employees for their achievements and hard work. We are very fortunate to have so many outstanding, dedicated employees in our school system.
C. Scott Stone
Hampstead
(The writer is a member of the Board of Education of Carroll County.)