Ocean City Today
MARCH 29, 2013
NEWS 3A
SHES’s Eure named 2013 Worcester County Teacher of the Year Twenty-five year teaching veteran will now move on to Maryland competition ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer (March 29, 2013) Karen Eure, a 25year kindergarten teaching veteran at Snow Hill Elementary School, was named Worcester County’s 2013 “Teacher of the Year” last Friday during a banquet at the Clarion Hotel in Ocean City. “I am stunned and amazed to be here representing the most wonderful group of teachers anywhere in the country,” Eure said. “You are the ones who make this the best job in the world.” Every year, the state of Maryland charges each of its 24 school districts — 23 counties, plus Baltimore City — with selecting a top teacher to serve as a candidate alongside teachers from other districts in the contest for Maryland Teacher of the Year. At each of the county’s 14 public schools, a selection committee of administrators is formed to receive nominations for that school’s best teacher. Following a review, the committee selects one nominee to represent the school at the county level. All 14 candidates were present at last
OCEAN CITY TODAY/ZACK HOOPES
Worcester County’s 2013 Teacher of the Year award winner Karen Eure, right, is congratulated by fellow candidate Arlene Hager, of Showell Elementary School, during the Teacher of the Year banquet held last Friday in Ocean City.
week’s culminating event, along with their families and colleagues, not knowing which one of them would be named the winner following an intensive selection process earlier this year. A panel, consisting of former county teachers as well as education professionals from local universities, made the selection based on a 1,200-point rubric involving work sam-
ples as well as in-person interviews. Before Eure’s name was announced, 2012 Teacher of the Year Tony Bevilacqua delivered the evening’s keynote address, in which he encouraged teachers to not lose sight of how profound an impact their dedication can have. Bevilacqua cited a recent study by famed Harvard University economist
Raj Chetty, “which suggested that if a student, in their K-12 experience, can have just one teacher that is a top five percent teacher – in other words, a Worcester County teacher – that the impact of having such a high quality teacher translates to an additional $9,000 in earnings per year.” “It literally puts dollar signs on good lesson plans, which is something that we as teachers tend to forget,” Bevilacqua said. “The study proves that what we do is an investment in our children and our communities.” Bevilacqua noted that he had worked in several other school districts, but always saw working in Worcester as a step up, and applied for jobs in the county several times before he was given a position. Elsewhere, he said, many teachers “had forgotten that what they do is an art form.” Worcester County Board of Education President Bob Rothermel echoed the sentiment. “John Steinbeck is credited as saying, ‘I’ve come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist, and that they are as few in number as any of the other great visual artists,’” Rothermel said. Eure was presented with the award by County Commissioner Virgil Shockley, two of whose children Eure has taught during her tenure. See EURE on Page 11A
Happy
Easter
Easter Brunch Menu 2013
Sunday, March 31st • 10am - 3pm • Reservations Recommended adults $27.95 • children ages 5-12 $14.95 • Under 5 FREE!
32ND ST. OCEANSIDE IN THE HILTON
410-289-2525 OPEN DAILY FOR BREAKFAST LUNCH & DINNER OCEANCITYHILTON.COM/DINING
Carving Station
Hot Station
Roasted Leg of Lamb with rosemary & garlic Rib Roast au jus & horseradish cream Honey Baked Ham with dijon marmalade
seafood thermidor, chicken cordon bleu, white spinach mushroom lasagna with 3 cheeses, applewood smoked bacon, sausage, potatoes o’brien, garlic mashed red potatoes & fresh vegetable medley
Omelet Station w/eggs to order shredded cheese, shrimp, spinach, mushroom, ham, peppers, onions, sausage, bacon *All omelets may be made with: whole eggs, egg whites or Egg Beaters
Yogurt Parfait Station greek yogurt and toppings, house made granola, fresh fruits, craisins, raisins, bananas, apricots, prunes, brown sugar & sliced almonds
Waffle Station w/choice of topping
Bread Station
fresh strawberries, blueberries, toasted pecans, whipped cream, warm syrup & powdered sugar
fresh baked assorted muffins and croissants, herb roasted ciabatta triangles, assorted danishes, assorted artisian bread loaves and rolls & whipped flavored butters
Salad & Seafood Station smoked norwegian salmon with mini bagels and condiments, fruit tree stocked with seasonal fruit, peel and eat shrimp, marinated roasted vegetables, baked brie en croute, asian noodle salad, caribbean caesar salad & 32 palm house salad
Dessert Station assorted pastry tarts filled with: key lime, spiced apples, chocolate mousse & cherry filling. Also serving: strawberry shortcake, lemon bars, cookies, brownies, apple crisp & pineapple bread pudding.