SMECO Honors Oustanding Math & Science Teachers
SMECO’s Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year for St. Mary’s County. From left are Kimberle Egbert of Leonardtown High School, Jennifer Dade of Leonardtown Middle School, and Joanne Clapp of Chesapeake Public Charter School.
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently honored 15 local teachers from the Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s county school systems for their accomplishments in the fields of mathematics and science. Over the past 22 years, SMECO has recognized more than 300 local math and science teachers.
This year, nine math teachers and six science teachers were chosen for their outstanding performance in the areas of creativity, rapport with students, enthusiasm for teaching, professionalism, and innovative teaching methods. Each teacher received a plaque and a cash award.
For the keynote address at the awards banquet, SMECO welcomed back Bernadette Scheetz, who was an Outstanding Mathematics Teacher honoree in 2011 and a finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013. Scheetz said the teachers who affect the lives of students the most are the ones who share passion, caring, creativity, and respect with each of their students.
SMECO’s Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year for St. Mary’s County. From left are Lesley Williams of Chopticon High School, Anna Jones of Chesapeake Public Charter School, and Alicia Ortega of Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School.
“Everyone in this room has a teacher to thank for getting us here. Everyone has an experience in education and education runs deep in all people,” Scheetz said. “Teachers must make that experience the best for every child, every day. You are making a difference in the lives of our students in Southern Maryland and are being recognized tonight for those remarkable differences. This is not an easy job, for we are charged to help our learners with emotional, social, and academic growth in a fast-paced, changing world. The kindergarten students entering into classroom doors this fall will be retiring in the year 2071. Throughout their lives, they will be utilizing technologies and ideas that we cannot begin to fathom.”
Enhancing the quality of life in southern Maryland is part of SMECO’s mission. The Co-op sponsors events for students to encourage them to excel in math, science, and technology. These events include the local MATHCOUNTS competition, the annual Southern Maryland Regional Computer Bowl, the Elementary Knowledge Bowl, and the Elementary Math Challenge. More than 1,000 students in SMECO’s service area participated in these events this year.
SMECO’s Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year are listed below.
Calvert County
Nicole Catlett, Huntingtown High School
Ryan Crowley, Southern Middle School
Christine Lee, Calvert Elementary School
Charles County
Crystal Miller Holm, Milton Somers Middle School
Darleane Lowe, Eva Turner Elementary School
Kristin Steger, Thomas Stone High School
St. Mary’s County
Anna Jones, Chesapeake Public Charter School
Alicia Ortega, Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School
Lesley Williams, Chopticon High School
SMECO’s Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year are listed below.
Calvert County
Jamie Rowder, Huntingtown High School
Charles County
William Robert Bingham, La Plata High School
Brian Colaizzi, Piccowaxen Middle School
St. Mary’s County
Joanne Clapp, Chesapeake Public Charter School
Jennifer Dade, Leonardtown Middle School
Kimberle Egbert, Leonardtown High School
