March 27th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
On Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at the 25th Annual Salute to the 2013-2014 Allegany County Teachers of the Year, Carol Garner, environmental science teacher at the Center for Career and Technical Education, was crowned the 2013-2014 Allegany County Teacher of the Year. Carol, along with four other finalists and four school-level teacher representatives, was honored at the celebration held at Mountain Ridge High School.
Carol graduated from Frostburg State University with a Master of Education degree in 1999 and a Bachelor of Science degree in geography in 1989. She is currently an environmental science instructor at the Career Center where she is a member of the Student Improvement Team, the Student Assistance Program, a science instructional leader, a co-liaison of the Western Region Environmental Literacy Initiative and the Envirothon advisor.
“I love teaching; I love teaching all students – the easy ones, the difficult ones, the stubborn ones, the stinky ones, and of course, the bright ones,” said Garner. “I did not understand the peace and inspiration I would get from teaching.”
The five Allegany County Teacher of the Year finalists, including Garner, who were also recognized at the banquet were Maria Cotton, Beall Elementary School; Leslie Martin, Mountain Ridge High School; Kara McDowell, Westernport Elementary School; and Amy Morton, Northeast Elementary School. School-level representative included Jason Bearinger, West Side Elementary School; Janel Shoemaker, South Penn Elementary School; Victoria Green, Fort Hill High School; and Nancy Kett, Cresaptown Elementary School.
All Teacher of the Year candidates must be full-time classroom, resource, or media teachers with a minimum of five years teaching experience. School-based teacher representatives must complete various application forms if they are interested in becoming a candidate for the county level Teacher of the Year recognition.
A selection committee comprised of four judges completed a selection criteria scoring form for each applicant. Candidates are judged on areas such as education history and professional development activities, professional biographies, philosophies of teaching, teaching profession, and communication skills. This year’s judges included Dr. Ernie Kaylor, retired ACPS administrator; LeeAnn Zlomek, 2012-2013 Allegany County Teacher of the Year; Fred Powell, owner, Main Street Books; and Robin Summerfield, field representative for Senator Ben Cardin.
Sponsors of the 25th Annual Salute to the Allegany County Teachers of the Year included Allegany College of Maryland, Allegany County Board of Education, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, Allegany County Board of Commissioners, Allegany County Public Schools, Allegany County Teachers FCU, Frostburg State University, and Oscar’s Restaurant.
Special thanks should be extended to the members of the Teacher of the Year planning committee for their work in organizing this year’s program, especially Lisa Stevenson, who serves as the event coordinator. Other members of the planning committee include Robert Stevenson, Pat Kaylor, Tim Miller, Dee Blank, and Mia Cross. Chuck Park served as this year’s videographer; students in the CCTE culinary arts program catered the event; and ACPS strings students provided the pre-ceremony musical entertainment.
Pictured in the group photo: (front) Nancy Kett, Maria Cotton, Victoria Green, Kara McDowell, Janel Shoemaker; (back) Jason Bearinger, Leslie Martin, Carol Garner, Amy Morton.
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