If it takes a village to help raise a child, that village must include great teachers. Baltimore County Public Schools is proud of the quality and dedication of its teachers and is pleased to share some of their recent achievements.

In honoring an outstanding educator each year, Baltimore County Public Schools celebrates all 8,850 teachers who make a positive difference in the lives of our students.

Teacher of the Year Angela Rountree unveiling her special reserved parking sign

Angela Rountree, a 22-year educator who teaches art at Ridgely Middle School in Lutherville, was named Baltimore County's Teacher of the Year on May 3, 2012.

Baltimore County Public Schools' Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston named Rountree as the new 2012-2013 Baltimore County Teacher of the Year during a midday ceremony at school system headquarters.

"I am proud to have been selected to represent the teachers of this great school system," said Rountree, a native of Marion, Ohio. "But I don't know that I can put into words how it feels to be the BCPS Teacher of the Year. I guess 'surreal' would be a good word for an art teacher to use to describe how she feels about this wonderful, unbelievable honor."

As Baltimore County's newest Teacher of the Year, Rountree becomes the most visible school-based teacher in the county and among the most prominent in Maryland. Representing more than 8,850 educators for the next year, she will compete for the honor of Maryland State Teacher of the Year and appear in dozens of venues to champion teaching and the school system.

Teacher of the Year Angela Rountree

During the award ceremony, Rountree was congratulated by Dr. Hairston, members of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, administrators, friends, family, and colleagues, including several former Baltimore County Teachers of the Year. Also praising Rountree was Joshua Parker, an English teacher at Windsor Mill Middle School who was last year's Baltimore County Teacher of the Year and who went on to become Maryland's Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012.

"Because of what Angela teaches and how she teaches it, her students leave her classes with a broader world perspective and a better understanding of their power to change the world," said Dr. Hairston. "They make art that makes the world a more beautiful place and they also take action to make the world a better place."

Rountree, who is the art department chair at Ridgely, thanked her principal, Susan Evans, as well as her colleagues and family. "I was so honored when I found out that my principal had nominated me for this award," she said. "Yes, I am an art teacher. Anyone could tell by the paint, clay, glue, chalk . . . on my clothing and the colorful grime under my fingernails. But as a result of my interactions with colleagues, administrators, parents and students, I have become so much more, and I thank them for that."   

TOY Angela Rountree being interviewed by the media

In addition to teaching for the past 17 years at Ridgely, Rountree taught at Dundalk Middle School from 1990 to 1995. A graduate of Ohio State University, she has blended her instruction with a passion for cultural and social awareness ranging from multiculturalism to environmental stewardship. She is also a vigorous advocate for the arts, last year applying for and winning a grant to equip her school with digital cameras and sessions for students with a photographer in residence, among other accomplishments.

Also honored during Thursday's ceremony were five finalists. They are: Mary Ches, a mathematics, science, and social studies teacher at New Town Elementary School in Owings Mills; Mary King, a special education teacher at Hereford Middle School in Monkton; Jennifer Stoe, an English teacher at Cockeysville Middle School in Cockeysville; Holly Sturm, a special education and elementary education teacher at Mars Estates Elementary School in Essex; and Susan Wilson, an instrumental music teacher at Ridgely Middle School in Lutherville.

"The six teachers we honor today as finalists represent the strength of our teaching force countywide," said Dr. Hairston. "These are educators who are committed to their own professional development, who serve as mentors and leaders in their schools and subject areas, who forge lasting bonds with their students, their students' families, and the larger community.

Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston congratulating TOY Angela Rountree

"These are educators who do more than teach outside the box. They recognize that there is no box. These are educators whose lessons cross disciplines and whose teaching styles reach every student."
In addition to the title and a plaque, the county's Teacher of the Year is awarded an array of prizes.  Rountree will receive from the school system:

• State-of-the-art educational technology for her classroom
• Books dedicated for the Ridgely Middle School library in her name
• The opportunity to participate in a national professional development conference of her choice during the next year
• A specially-designated parking space at her school

Baltimore County's business community also strongly supported the Teacher of the Year program this year, contributing a variety of awards and gifts to demonstrate its commitment to teaching and to the county's Teacher of the Year. Those gifts included:

• A weekend getaway package and accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Baltimore Hotel in Timonium.
• Tickets to a Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert.
• A yearlong family membership to Brick Bodies / Lynne Brick's health and fitness centers.
• A new laptop computer from Data Networks.
• Formal portrait photography from Lifetouch, Inc.
• A family membership and prize package to the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills.
• A gift bag and tickets to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

For more information on the BCPS and Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of the Year programs, please visit: www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/recognition-partnerships.

<< For a list of BCPS Teachers of the Year since 1988, please click here >>

The Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Communications is always eager to hear about and promote good news about the system, schools, students, teachers, and staff. Please share achievements and good news by e-mailing communications@bcps.org. Every year, we celebrate BCPS achievements through Board of Education Recognition ceremonies (November, February, and April), Maryland State Department of Education School Achievement Celebration (January/February), Teacher of the Year (May), and the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Awards for Excellence in Education (May).