Nearly 900 business leaders, elected officials, educators and their supporters turned out Monday night at Martin?s East in Essex as the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce honored 189 local public school teachers and educators.
In his opening remarks at the Chamber?s 20th Annual Awards for Excellence in Education, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith stressed the importance of funding educational programs. Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools Joe A. Hairston spoke of elevating the quality ofteachers and the curriculum in the county?s public schools.
Keynote speaker Robert Lawless, McCormick & Co. president, addressed the county education system?s importance in ensuring business and economic success in the Baltimore County.
The chamber awarded the efforts of 15 educators for their commitment, attitude, leadership and creativity in the classroom, including Lisa Sopher of Hereford High School; Sue Wilson of Ridgley Middle School; Justin Pugh of Pine Grove Elementary, Patricia Farrell of Catonsville Middle; Sandy McGuire of Perry Hall Middle; Jen Mileto of Padonia International Elementary; Michelle Hunsicker of Kingsville Elementary; Sharon Adedeji of Owings Mills High; Robert Gundlach of Chesapeake High and Margaret Bagwell of Woodbridge Elementary.
Berenbach Educational Incentives Fund Award Recipients were Elizabeth Andryszak of Glenmar Elementary; Patrice Manning-Walker of Scotts Branch Elementary; Carol Moore of Dundalk Middle; Kathy Wilson of Lansdowne Elementary; and Maleena Kantorski of Sandy Plains Elementary.
“The Berenbach awards [named after former Chamber of Commerce chairman Tom Berenbach] go to outstanding teachers at schools designated by the school system as low-performing,” said chamber president Joan Hatfield. “The monetary awards aren?t huge, but they?re designed to help re-pay teachers for their out-of-pocket expenses.”
