Patapsco High School Educator Named Teacher of the Year

Baltimore County Public Schools honored Patapsco High School English teacher Sean McComb was honored as the 2013-2014 teacher of the year Monday afternoon.

"Sean McComb is a dynamic and creative educator who is an inspiration to both his students and his colleagues," Superintendent Dallas Dance said in a news release. "He used his teachers and education to rescue him from a difficult childhood, and now helps his own students to, in his words, 'achieve, awaken and ascend' We congratulate him and all of our 115 nominated teachers and finalists."

McComb, a seven-year educator who also serves as an Advancement Via Individual Determination coordinator, was one of four teachers nominated for the award, according to the release.

The win makes him Baltimore County's contender for the Maryland State Teacher of the Year award.

Andrea Bissell of Chesapeake High School, Lynn Detter of Riderwood Elementary School and Cara Detwiler of Johnnycake Elementary School were also honored, the release states.

For his win, McComb will receive several awards and gifts from the school system and the local business community including a $1,000 gift for classroom supplies from the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, weekend getaway accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Baltimore Hotel in Timonium and the opportunity to participate in a national professional development conference of his choice.

Karen Harris of Fort Garrison Elementary School was recognized as the first ever principal of the year, according to the release. Harris, a 14-year principal, was nominated in 1995 for the school system's teacher of the year award.

"Karen Harris is an exemplary principal who has created a unified school vision and culture at Fort Garrison and extends herself as an ambassador to her community and to other administrators as a principal mentor for the past decade," Dance said in the release. "Karen is a deserving recipient of our first Principal of the Year Award."