Bel Air Educator Named Health Education Teacher Of The Year, 3 Others Named Award Winners

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Three teachers have been named recipients of the 2024 Simon A. McNeely Award and Kathy Deyesu with Bel Air Middle School has been named the 2024 Health Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE Maryland.

SHAPE Maryland’s mission is to "enhance and promote the health and wellness of all the citizens of Maryland by providing advocacy, resources and professional learning opportunities for current and future prekindergarten through 12th grade health and physical educators.

Simon A. McNeely Award nominees demonstrate outstanding teaching, service and innovation in health, physical education, recreation or dance, according to the award program. Nominees must have presented or actively participated in workshops and conferences while also being actively involved in school and community affairs.

The recipients are:

• Jean Grieser of Harford Academy
• Justin Markle of Abingdon Elementary School
• Dean Thrasher of Bel Air Middle and Bakerfield Elementary schools

The educators will be formally recognized at the SHAPE Maryland Awards Ceremony Oct. 26 at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel in Towson.