Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School math teacher honored with award
By: Leah Fabel
Examiner Staff Writer
April 16, 2008
WASHINGTON — Montgomery County’s teacher of the year works calculus problems for fun on the subway, and credits his own struggles with math as helping him teach students college-level math classes at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
Christopher Orlando, selected from the three finalists as the county’s teacher of the year, was honored Tuesday night at a gala event attended by local politicians, educators and business people.
"This is an incredible honor, and not usually the reason you go into teaching," Orlando said. "But it’s exciting -- amazing -- when you’re recognized for the hard work you do."
Orlando, in his seventh year teaching at the school, says he can recall how daunting mathematics can be.
"Every day I have a good idea of what struggles they’ll have. I can point out the problems before they reach them themselves."
In six years, 328 of Orlando’s students have taken end-of-the-year Advanced Placement calculus tests used for college credit. Nearly all have passed, and more than half earned the top score.
The other finalists were Stephanie Lee, in her seventh year teaching science at Bethesda’s Westland Middle School, and Lori Martioski-Taylor, a nine-year chemistry teacher at Rockville’s Richard Montgomery High School known for her glowing-pickle demonstrations.
More than 500 people attended the event, hosted for the sixth year by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, a nonprofit founded by area employers to promote excellence in the public schools.
"When you see the nominees on paper, they all look like great teachers," said Jane Kubasik, executive director. "But in the classroom they really come to life -- the charisma is really impressive."
Lee and Martioski-Taylor will each receive a vacation-stay at a Marriott Hotel anywhere in the world. Orlando will receive $1,000 for himself, $1,000 for Bethesda-Chevy Chase, a laptop and a one-year car lease.
lfabel@dcexaminer.com
