Vote for Frederick County Middle School Finalists

About Joseph Allen

The reason Joseph Allen teaches is fairly straightforward: “To watch students learn something new, and this happens every day,” he says. Now in his ninth year as an educator, Allen teaches science to 6th- and 7th-graders at Ballenger Creek Middle School in Frederick County.

What keeps him engaged are the moments when “parents tell me I have turned their children in the opposite direction, fro disliking school to wanting to come to my class every day,” he says. The teacher who influenced him most was Mrs. Tatem, his 5th-grade teacher at Dickson Elementary School in Kingsport, Tenn. “She made learning a fun experience.”

Allen received a B.S. in Environmental Health from East Tennessee State University and a M.S. in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. He is an avid reader and his favorite book is “always the one I’m reading at the moment,” he says.

The person he most admires is his wife, “for putting up with my fast paced activities and loving me,” he says.

About Kyle Barnette

Kyle Barnette loves to work with kids. His favorite moment as a teacher comes “every time the light bulb goes off and a student understands a new concept for the first time,” he says.

A graduate of Salisbury University, Barnette currently is working toward a graduate degree from Liberty University. Barnette, who has spent the past six years in the classroom, teaches math at Windsor Knolls Middle School in Frederick County.

The best piece of advice he has received as a teacher is: “Every day is a new day, and the hardest day was yesterday.” The advice he offers to those considering a career as a teacher is that, “Teaching starts with loving kids. Once they know that you care about them, you can teach them anything,” he says.

Had Barnette not become a teacher, he probably would have been an evangelist “to tell people the good news of what God has done.” The person Barnette most admires is Jesus. “He did noting out of selfish ambition, but sacrificed all he had to put others ahead of himself.” The Bible is his favorite book. “It holds the keys to this life and the next,” he says.

About Mary Carroll

“I started teaching because I enjoyed working with children,” says Mary Carroll. “I continue to teach because I love to be able to see the light bulbs go on when the students understand a new concept or apply it to a previously learned one. Each day is full of new challenges and new ideas and that motivates me to continue to teach.”

Had she not become a teacher, Carroll would probably have gone into accounting. “I started college with the intent of becoming an accountant because I love to work with numbers and problem solve,” she says. After receiving her B.S. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Carroll earned a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola College.

Carroll, who teaches math at St. John Regional Catholic School in Frederick County, says the best advice she’s been given during her 14 years of teaching is not to take yourself too seriously. But, the advice she would offer those thinking of a career in education is “to be sure to put the student needs before content requirements,” she says. “I would tell them that teamwork is essential in finding success in teaching so be sure to ask for help when you need it.

The person Carroll most admires is her father. “He has always been there for friends and family alike and he willingly takes on responsibility,” she says. “Through his actions, he continues to help many. I can only hope to make that kind of impression on others in my life.”

About Andrea Eyler

“I love being around people especially children. It makes me happy to see their faces light up with new ideas,” says Andrea Eyler, a social studies teacher at Ballenger Creek Middle School in Frederick County. This 35-year classroom veteran received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and graduate degree from Hood College.

Eyler has also taught at the elementary level. “When I taught first grade it always thrilled me when students who didn't even know their alphabet at the start of the year could suddenly put all the sounds together and read,” she says.

It was her Aunt Bea who gave Eyler a valuable piece of advice. “[She] told me to always walk at the end of the line, not in front, so you could see what everybody was doing in the hall,” Eyler says. As to the advice she would give to prospective teachers: “Never think of teaching as a job that gives you 10 weeks off in the summer and holidays that are comprised of free time. The job of teaching has no vacation time.”

While Aunt Bea may have given her good advice, it is her father who most influenced her as a teacher. “[He} was a dedicated Physical Education teacher in Newark, NJ, who taught at the same school for forty-two years,” she says.

As to the person Eyler most admires: “A former student of mine, Joey Corpuz, who battled cancer and greeted each day as a beautiful adventure with a chance to learn something new. Joey passed last February and I know for a fact that he taught me so much more about life and true happiness than anything I could possibly have taught him about school subjects,” she says.

About Theresa McMullin

“Teach with your heart,” says Theresa McMullin when asked for the best piece of advice she’s been given during her six years as a teacher. It’s also advice she would give to those considering their field of education. “When you know that you’re giving your students your very best, you’ll never go wrong.”

McMullin, a social studies teacher at Trinity School of Frederick, has had many memorable experiences as a teacher, so many that it’s hard to pick a single favorite. “Each year brings a new set of wonderful, magical moments,” she says. “Every incredible moment has one thing in common – a child realizes that he or she is capable of more than they ever knew was possible. They come in as 6th grade students, wondering if they can handle the challenges set before them, and by 8th grade, they not only know how to meet every challenge, but they begin to believe that they’re masters of everything they encounter. It’s the ability to inspire that confidence that makes it all worthwhile.

While there are many who inspire her, it is Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter who she most looks up to. “The Carters have worked in this country and internationally over the last 30 years to promote education, justice, and equality for all people. They embody the principals of respect, tolerance, and understanding,” she says.

McMullin’s favorite novel to teach is The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. I love using this novel as 6th grade students begin their Ancient Studies year. The book’s story is compelling and the characters come to life for the kids,” she says.

About Beth Smith

“You have to be flexible; rigid and kids don’t go together,” says Beth Smith, a middle school science teacher at St. John Regional Catholic School in Frederick County. This former stay-at-home mom has been teaching 11 years, the most recent seven full time.

Influenced by her organic chemistry professor – “The man could make anything fun and exciting,” she says – Smith enjoys teaching. “I love to share my love of science with my students.”

Perhaps the best piece of advice she’s been given as a teacher is, “You may not be able to like all your students, but you can love them,” she says. Her favorite moments in the classroom come when “a student that has been struggling says, ‘I get it!’”

Smith’s grandmother is the person she most admires. “She never stopped learning,” says Smith, “she just loved new things.” Smith’s learning took place at Hood College, where she received a B.A. in Biochemistry.

Her favorite book is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. “I first read it when I was 10 years old and, to this day, if I can’t find anything else to read, I pull it out,” she says. “It’s like renewing an old friendship. I just love that story.”

About Scott T. Strait

“Nothing can open doors for people like education can,” says Scott T. Strait. “I realized during my first year of college that I wanted to be a part of that and I wanted to make a career out of helping young people strengthen their chances for a brighter future.”

Now in his ninth year as a teacher, Strait holds a B.A. in Secondary Education- Social Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Hood College. Strait is a social studies teacher at Brunswick Middle School in Frederick County.

One of his favorite moments occurred in his first year of teaching during a class activity he had organized with the help of a master teacher. “The activity went amazingly well and the students were learning and having a great time,” he says. “Halfway through the class there was an announcement over the intercom for a student to leave because she had to go to the doctor or something. She was so upset because she wanted to stay and participate in the class and she kept saying, ‘No, I don't want to go, I'm having fun.’”

Strait tries to instill in his students a strong work ethic. “Work ethic is ultimately more important than innate ability and success is awarded to those to work toward it,” he says. “Too many students come into my class thinking that grades are a reflection of IQ or some other measure of intellectual ability. I share with them that this isn't the case and that the best grades are given to those who work hard and want to succeed.”

Strait credits Dr. Paul Douglas Newman at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for not only bringing history to life but for making Strait work harder than he ever had.

About Gregory Trax

The reason Gregory Trax teaches is simple: “To give students a fun, relaxed environment in which they don't even realize they are learning the practical skills they need to grasp until they do a project or performance and figure it out for themselves,” he says.

Trax teaches classroom art and theatre at Monocacy Middle School and is the assistant drama director at Walkersville High School, both in Frederick County. He holds a B.A. in Studio Art: Graphic Design and Advertising from Michigan State University and is certified in the State of Maryland in Visual and Theatre Arts.

His favorite moment as a teacher? “Watching it all come together on stage as the lights dimmed and the curtain rose on the first play I directed,” he says.

If he weren’t a teacher, Trax might well be a comic book artist. “I taught myself to draw at an early age by trying to mimic the art of my favorite artists,” he says. So if I were a comic professional, somewhere out there, a child might be inspired enough to teach himself to draw from my work – so I guess I'd still be a teacher.”

The best advice he’s been given during his eight years as a teacher: “Be unpredictable, yet keep it applicable,” he says. The advice he offers prospective teachers: “Don't lose your sense of humor - take nothing personally.”

It was Trax’s high school philosophy and history teacher, Jim Unrue, who most influenced him. “You never knew what would be going on in the classroom on any given day, but you knew that your limits would be tested, and you would have to think. I loved that,” he says.

About Leslie Williamson

“I began teaching hoping I could make a real difference in the life of one student,” says Leslie Williamson. “I never knew how many lives I would impact in this position.

A veteran teacher with more than 20 years in the classroom, Williamson has been teaching in Frederick County for the past eight. Her favorite part about teaching? “When I see the ‘ah hah’ moment in my students’ eyes and the smiles on their faces, no matter if it is math related or life related,” she says.

The best piece of advice she’s received as a teacher is, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she says. As to those considering a career in education, Williamson says, “Make sure you have a thick skin and big heart.”

It was her children’s 4th grade teacher, Frances Yolch, who inspired Williamson to become a teacher. “I saw how she captivated her students, how she cared about her students, and how she could keep them all on task with just a whisper,” says Williamson. “I learned so much from her – how to be a good teacher, a good person, and how to advocate for the underdog.”

The book Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt is one of Williamson’s favorites. She started reading it along with her son when he was in 6th grade. “The book tells the story of three children who fight to stay alive, stay safe and stay together. Their fight reflects a lot of what I see day to day with some of my students,” she says.