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About Bradley Gray

After 14 years in the classroom, Bradley Gray continues to teach because, “It gives me the opportunity to touch and shape the future.” A graduate of the University of Delaware, Gray received his M.Ed from The George Washington University in 1995.

As a social studies teacher at Tuscarora High School in Frederick County, Gray focuses on advanced placement courses, for which students may receive college credit. His favorite moment as a teacher comes “when the kids come out of the AP exams in May and tell me that they are confident that they did well,” he says.

If he weren’t teaching, Gray would be an attorney. “My first job out of college was a paralegal position for a Washington, D.C. law firm and I initially thought I’d be a lawyer like my dad.” His dad is, in fact, the person Gray admires most. “He showed me what the definition of courage was throughout his battle with terminal cancer; he faced death with dignity,” he says.

The best piece of advice he’s received as a teacher? “Let your true colors shine through; the kids will respect the honesty,” he says.

Gray’s favorite book is Tales from Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett. “I have read those short stories dozens of times and they never fail to give me the escape that I am looking for,” he says.

About Jo A. Hultslander

The reason Jo A. Hultslander teaches is “to share the passion for foreign language with teens, and it keeps me young,” she says. Hultslander, who teaches Spanish at Frederick High School, has taught a total of 30 years.

After receiving a B.S. in Education at SUC at Buffalo, Hultslander earned a master’s equivalency with coursework at The George Washington University. She currently is enrolled the master’s program at Hood College. Had she not become a teacher, something she always wanted to be, Hultslander would have been a translator “because of the challenges it presents,” she says.

Her favorite moment as a teacher? “There are many,” she says, “but when a student has the "I got it look," it is a great feeling.”

It was her high school Spanish teacher who most influenced Hultslander. [She] encouraged me and believed that I had the potential to become a teacher even with the language barrier. My first language is Italian,” she says.

“Always give 100 percent,” is the best advice Hultslander says she’s received as a teacher. Her advice to a prospective teacher: “Be patient and keep up with the latest technology,” she says.

Hultslander appreciates her family. Those she most admires: “teaching me morals and a work ethic that is part of my daily life. My husband and children for their love and support,” she says.

When she’s not teaching, she enjoys mysteries and reading books about other cultures.

About Daria Lynne Baldovin-Jahrling

“I love literature and writing, especially poetry,” says Daria Lynne Baldovin-Jahrling. “I wanted to share that with others. And, I always loved school and preferred being there than anywhere. I loved talking to my teachers about things other than just school topics. I always learned so much from them. It just seemed like the natural thing for me to do.”

An English and creative writing teacher at Middletown High School in Frederick County, Baldovin-Jahrling has taught for 17 years. She holds a B.A. in English with a minor in Education from Queens College of CUNY and a M.A. in Humanities from Hofstra University.

Baldovin-Jahrling has experienced many wonderful moments in the classroom, all of which involve reaching a student and communicating her love of literature and writing. “That moment when a student gets what I am trying to say is so fine,” she says. “When my creative writing kids turn in a really fine piece, it just warms my heart and I am so proud.”

The teacher who most influenced Baldovin-Jahrling was her 10th-grade English teacher, Elaine Scholer. “I student-taught with her, and we became best friends. She has probably influenced me the most in my career,” she says.

The person Baldovin-Jahrling admires most is her daughter. Bria Jahrling was struck by a car last year in a crosswalk on her college campus and suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her recovery took five months. “While she still suffers some side effects from her TBI, she has returned to school and is still working hard as a dance major,” said Baldovin-Jahrling. “I admire Bria for her bravery and perseverance, for her sheer will to recover, for her love of life and all its possibilities – even in the face of adversity and pain. Bria is my hero every single day.”

About James Kelly

Why does James Kelly teach? “It’s fun,” he says, “and no two days are ever the same.” An AP chemistry teacher at Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick County,” Kelly has been teaching for 25 years.

Kelly earned both a B.S. in General Science Teacher Education and M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from the University of Houston. If he weren’t a teacher, Kelly would probably be an emergency room surgeon. “I would like the adrenaline rush created by having to react quickly to new cases,” he says.

His most memorable classroom moment came when a student, who didn’t have a father at home, came into his class one day wearing a tie. “The knot on his tie looked awful,” says Kelly. “I had him come up to my desk, and I stood behind him as we were looking into a mirror. I then reached over his shoulders and I showed him how to tie a tie. After we fixed his tie, I looked at him in the mirror and I noticed he was beaming. It brought a tear to my eye because I realized how this boy, like so many other students, lacked someone in his life to teach him the simplest skills. I also realized that these students can really be uplifted with just a little time investment from a caring adult.”

Kelly’s high school sociology teacher, Mr. Whalen, was an influence in his life. “I liked him because he spoke often about people and life, and he then encouraged us to reflect on our own lives and our own opinions. He also told us that, as we get older and wiser, our values will change,” he says.

About Julian Lazarus

“I love to bring the world of the arts to students and see how they work and live in that world,” says Julian Lazarus, a drama and dance teacher at Linganore High School. His favorite moment as an educator is “that moment when the lights come on, both on stage and in the students’ eyes, and all of the theory and skills come into focus.”

Lazarus loves his job. “I wake up with the thought that I get to go to work today,” he says. And he tells anyone thinking of becoming a teacher, “Do it because you love it and it makes you happy. Otherwise, find something else that makes you happy and do that instead.”

A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, with a B.A. in theatre with a directing focus and a minor in education, Lazarus received his M.A. from NYU in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities. His undergraduate tech professor, Ray Recht, was influential in Lazarus’ life. “He showed me my craft, but also how to be patient, understanding, compassionate, and how to appreciate truly good theatre,” he says.

The father of a two-year-old boy, Lazarus’ favorite book is The Monster at the End of this Book, starring loveable, furry old Grover. “I love the ‘suddenlies’ in this book, and now my son does as well.”

About Kristen Rowe

“I love to read and I take pleasure in sharing my love of reading with my students,” says Kristen Rowe. “I thoroughly enjoy making personal connections with students and being able to help them grow and learn as they pass through their teenage years.”

An English teacher at Urbana High School, Rowe has taught for two years. She holds a bachelor’s in Secondary Education with a concentration in English from Penn State University.

Rowe enjoys seeing students “get excited to work on a project or read a particular book. Seeing students' enthusiasm for learning helps to revitalize my own passion for the teaching and learning process,” she says.

The best piece of advice she’s received as a teacher: “Have a sense of humor,” she says. Advice she’d give to someone thinking of becoming an educator: “Be prepared to face many challenges and frustrations along the way, but know that each year it will get a little bit easier. It really is a rewarding profession.”

Rowe’s English teacher her senior year in high school, Mr. Catalfano, had a great impact on her. “Not only did he inspire me to become a teacher myself, but he also fueled my passion for reading. It was not until I took his class that I realized how much can be learned through simply reading a fictional novel,” she says.

Among those she most admires are her parents. “They have always encouraged me to be myself and have helped me become who I am today,” she says. “I admire that they have never faltered in their love for my brother and I, but also for each other.”

Rowe’s favorite author is John Irving; her favorite book is his The Cider House Rules.

About Gina Stelma

“You have to genuinely love doing what you do,” says Gina Stelma about teaching. “Getting in front of a classroom is like acting – you have to captivate your audience. Sometimes you will get rave reviews and sometimes you won’t. Sometimes you will go home and question why you teach in the first place. It’s not the money – it’s that smile or hug that you get from a student who finally passes your class after having struggled through the semester.”

An information technology teacher at Walkersville High School, Stelma initially appreciated the profession because it allowed her to be home for her children. “Now I realize that I teach because I enjoy being in the classroom with the students,” she says.” When they learn a skill or concept that will benefit them in the future and they realize the importance of it, I feel like a proud parent.”

Her favorite moment as a teacher occurred last school year when a digital photography teacher at the school scanned a photo of Stelma’s face and made life-size masks. “She paraded her students into my classroom in a conga line, playing ‘U Got the Look’ by Prince on a boom box…I laughed so hard! That day, my face was all over the building: in the cafeteria, on walls, and even on Facebook. I called it my ‘Sea of Stelmas.’ Different students wore that mask that day – some that I never had in class. I’ll never forget that day.”

About Joyce Tuten

“I teach because I love kids and because I feel like I'm having a positive influence on our future,” says Joyce Tuten, a chemistry and German teacher at Frederick High School. “If I weren't a teacher, I might be a marine biologist, because I always wanted to be Jacques Cousteau.”

Now in her eighth year of teaching, Tuten holds a B.S. from Rutgers University and a M.S. from the College of William and Mary. Her favorite moment as a teacher is “when I see the ‘lightbulb’ go on inside students’ head, when they finally understand a concept that has been giving them difficulty,” she says.

The advice Tuten has found most useful as a teacher is to find balance. “It's a job that can consume your life, so you have to just do the best you can, and then go home and enjoy your family,” she says. Her advice to a new teacher “would be to always continue to grow, we can all always get better at what we do.”

It was her mother, also an educator, who most influenced Tuten. “She was a high school math teacher for 25 years to a population of students that really struggled,” she says. “I admire her for the love she was able to bring to the classroom.”

Among the many people she admires, “Jill Kerr Conway comes to mind,” says Tuten. “Her book, Road From Coorain, has a very positive message about the joy and gift of having opportunities to learn.”

But Tuten’s favorite book is The Road Less Traveled “because of its simple messages about love and personal growth throughout life,” she says. “I think we all need to be lifelong learners. To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice are also favorites.”

About Charles Welch

With a decade of classroom experience, Charles Welch teaches math, primarily Algebra 1, at Tuscarora High School. His decision to become a teacher stemmed from the fact that he had been positively influenced by educators as a young man.

It was a teacher named Bill Tullock who was the greatest influence. “He expected and demanded more of me that I thought I was capable of achieving,” said Welch. “His belief in me made me believe in myself.”

As a teacher, Welch takes to heart advice he was given earlier in his career: Start each day as a new day. “To me that means every day, everyone has a chance to grow and improve regardless of what happened the day before,” he says.

Welch received a B.A. in Education from Fairmont State University. If he weren’t a teacher, he’d probably be a chef on a cruise ship. “I love to cook and travel, so this combines two of my passions,” he says.

The person Welch most admires is Tony Dungy, former coach of the NFL’s Tampa Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts. “Despite his personal loss and unparalleled success as a football coach, Coach Dungy is still motivated to help others and instill a sense of personal worth in everyone he comes in contact with,” says Welch. Dungy’s book, Uncommon, is Welch’s favorite read.

About Charles Zitrick

“I started teaching because of the history but the students keep me going. Their energy is really my motivation,” says Charles Zitrick, a social studies teacher at Tuscarora High School.

Now in his seventh year of teaching, Zitrick received his bachelor’s from Mount St. Mary’s University. He currently is enrolled in the master’s program at Hood College.

“With every class and every year, new memories are created. You can plan for everything but with teenagers, something new always seems to happen,” says Zitrick. He points to one favorite moment in particular that occurred during “a really drab lecture on Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto. I was asking questions on Marx's viewpoint on the power of Communism in 19th-century Europe to 30 head-down, eye-avoiding 10th graders,” he says. “As no one answered the questions, in that perfect storm of question and answer silence, the door to my portable classroom blew open and spread everyone's papers across the room. That wind gust snapped every head up and they swore I had some how planned that to happen. It is always the unexpected that is usually the most fun.”

The best advice Zitrick has received as a teacher is that, “in your classroom, you’re the captain of the ship. Take charge and enjoy,” he says. The advice he offers prospective teachers: “Make sure it’s really what you want to do. The hours are long, you can never turn your brain off from school completely; the pay isn't the motivator; make sure you're there for the students, and find a bit of enjoyment from every day.”

While his sister Maureen has been an important influence in his life, Zitrick admires several historical figures: “Oliver Cromwell, for his determination to do what he thought was right and not what was popular; Winston Churchill, for being that guy everyone needs while in a crisis, and Michael Collins ... hasn't everyone dreamed of being a revolutionary at some point?” he says.