LEONARDTOWN, Md. (April 14, 2011) — St. Mary's County Public Schools announced the selection of Mr. Charles Allen Skinner, a physics, STEM physics, and STEM engineering teacher at Great Mills High School, as its 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year.
"Mr. Skinner is an exemplary teacher who will represent our school system well," said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. "His boundless dedication to his students and the field of science serves as a model for the teaching profession. We are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Skinner on our instructional team at Great Mills High School."
Mr. Skinner, who earned his National Board Certification in 2005 and a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Virginia Polytechnic and State University in 1991, has served as a physics teacher at Great Mills High School since joining the school system in 1997. Since that time, he has overseen numerous rocketry and robotics competitions, and has served as the coordinator for the school system's summer science and engineering camp and space camp.
"During the two years I was Mr. Skinner's student, I was instilled with a passion for learning, especially for physics," wrote Ms. Bethany Schaeffer, a former student who currently attends Randolph-Macon College, in her letter of support. "His desire for his students to understand the difficult concepts involved in physics shows through his enthusiasm in the classroom. Had he not been my teacher, I would not be where I am today, nor would I know that I am going to spend the rest of my life in the field of physics."
All county Teacher of the Year representatives will be honored by the Maryland State Board of Education at a recognition luncheon held May 25, 2011, in Baltimore. Mr. Skinner will represent St. Mary's County Public Schools as a candidate for Maryland Teacher of the Year. This award will be announced at a banquet held in Baltimore in October.
The Maryland Teacher of the Year will be presented with several prizes, will speak at numerous conferences and events, and will act as an advisor to the Maryland State Department of Education. The Maryland Teacher of the Year is also a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.