Damascus’ Ortiz named county’s Teacher of the Year

Ortiz’s family was in the audience when he received the honor Thursday night at the Champions for Children gala.

‘‘It was a very exciting night,” he said.

Since Friday, his phone has not stopped ringing with congratulations from friends, people in the community and members of his church who heard the news on television.

Ortiz was nominated for the award by Steven Boden, executive vice president of the Montgomery County Student Automotive Trades Foundation.

Boden suggested Ortiz get his teaching certification after watching him mentor two of his students.

After a year at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Wheaton, Ortiz, 44, of Mount Airy has taught automotive technology at Damascus High since 2002. He guided the school through the rigorous certification processes for the National Automotive Technician’s Education Foundation and the Automotive Youth Educational System — the highest level of credentials for an automotive technology program.

‘‘He brought [the Damascus] program to a new level,” Boden said. ‘‘He’s just absolutely a committed person, he really cares. It’s just a privilege working with him.”

The Teacher of the Year was selected from among three veteran winners of the Marian Ortiz teaches more than automotive technology skills. He also serves as a role model for what his students can achieve, his students say.

Ortiz, who split his school years between Puerto Rico and Maryland, said he was not a good student, and that helps him understand his students.

‘‘I can relate to these guys because a lot of them have problems reading and writing,” he said. ‘‘They’re not scholastic students, but are still very bright.”

Greenblatt Excellence in Teaching Awards. The other two award winners are Philip D’Agnese of Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary School in Germantown and Noreen Gale of Oakland Terrace Elementary School in Kensington.