>
Radhika Plakkot (standing), 2008 Calvert County Teacher of the Year and the 2010 Maryland Science Teacher of the Year, gives a lesson during the teacher forum at St. Mary’s College of Maryland that brought educators together from all over Southern Maryland. (Submitted photo)
Posted on March 13, 2011
Great Teachers are Always Learning
ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. (March 13, 2011) — What makes an excellent teacher? This year’s annual “Teach for Excellence! Teach for Change!” forum March 5 brought together area educators to learn tips from Southern Maryland’s Teachers of the Year. Each year, the Department of Educational Studies and the Student Education Association (SEA) of St Mary’s College of Maryland host the forum to explore the profession of teaching and the world of schools.
Guest workshop leaders included the 2010 Maryland Teacher of the Year, Dr. Jennifer Rankin of Garrett County, and keynote speaker Kenneth Bernstein, the 2010 Washington Post Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George’s County. Each speaker presented a lesson for the first 30 minutes, using workshop attendees as the class. They then described the strategies they use to make lessons so successful with students year after year. Those attending included faculty from public schools and the college’s Educational Studies Department, and undergraduate and graduate students from St. Mary’s.
The keynote speaker, Ken Bernstein, talked of the importance of connecting and building relationships with students. He challenged a quote by Microsoft’s Bill Gates that teachers reach a plateau of growth after the third year in the profession. Bernstein outlined the opportunities he himself has taken for continued professional growth. They included National Endowment for the Humanities summer sessions, graduate work, and leadership in his department and school. Great teachers, he believes, own the continuous need for reflection: How well did today’s lesson go, what changes will help?
Read the full article here.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! 
