NEA Member Sean McComb Named 2014 National Teacher of the Year
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) May 02, 2014 -- NEA member Sean McComb, a high school English and AVID teacher at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in Baltimore, has been named the 2014 National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) by the Council of Chief State School Officers. McComb, a seven-year classroom veteran who is working this year as a staff development teacher at his school, is the ninth consecutive NEA member to receive the prestigious honor. He will serve for one year as a full-time national and international spokesperson for public education.
“On behalf of the National Education Association and its 3 million members, I congratulate Sean McComb on being named this year’s National Teacher of the Year,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “Sean inspires his students to realize their potential and achieve their dreams, and he serves as a great example of how teachers transform the lives of their students every day. Sean’s ability to instill a love of learning among his students and motivate them to reach for the stars is an inspiration to all teachers nationwide.”
McComb, who also prepares other teachers for the classroom as an adjunct instructor in education and writing at Towson University, has won several awards including being named a Capital One Community Champion and being recognized by Baltimore County for his outstanding leadership of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) College Preparatory Program. He has been actively involved in his local union and is a member of both Maryland State Education Association and NEA.
“I work to engage my students and push them to achieve the excellence within them,” said McComb. “I expect my students to leave my room better readers, writers and thinkers, but I also hope they leave as better people.”
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) announced the four finalists for the 2014 National Teacher of the Year in January. In addition to McComb, the other national finalists also were NEA members and included: Dorina M. Sackman, an eighth grade English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and AVID teacher at Westridge Middle School in Orlando, Fla.; Ryan Devlin, an eleventh-grade English and high school technology teacher at Brockway Area Junior/Senior High School in Brockway, Pa.; and Melissa Ann Porfirio, a first grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, Va.
“We are incredibly proud to have our third national teacher of the year in nine years from Maryland, and we applaud Sean on this tremendous accomplishment,” said MSEA President Betty Weller. “Anyone who hears Sean speak about teaching can hear in his voice the passion and commitment to his students and profession. He will be an outstanding ambassador for teachers over the next year, and I’m thrilled that so many people across the country will get to meet Sean and be inspired by his message.”
McComb and the 2014 State Teachers of the Year awardees will be recognized by President Barack Obama in a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House on Thursday. This year marks the 64th anniversary of the National Teacher of the Year Program, which honors educators representing the teaching profession as their State Teacher of the Year. This prestigious program allows teachers from across the country to collaborate with policymakers at every level and advocate on behalf of the teaching profession.
###
Follow NEA’s coverage of National Teacher Day at nea.org/teacherday.
Follow NEA at twitter.com/neamedia and Don’t Forget to #ThankATeacher
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.
CONTACT: Staci Maiers, NEA
(202) 270-5333 cell, smaiers(at)nea(dot)org
Staci Maiers, National Education Association, http://bit.ly/18Bgfow, 202-822-7823, [email protected]
Share this article