Corey Carter, an eighth grade science teacher at Old Court Middle School in Pikesville, has been announced Baltimore County’s Teacher of the Year. Carter co-founded My Brother’s Keeper Mentoring Program at the school, a White House initiative started by President Barack Obama to address opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color.
He was recognized during the April 20 ceremony from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson. Carter will compete for Maryland State Teacher of the Year while representing BCPS and showing what it means to be a BCPS educator.
The Teacher of the Year obtains awards and gifts from the school system, the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools and Baltimore County’s business community.
In a news release regarding the ceremony, Superintendent Dallas Dance stated that Carter “…fosters relationships with each and every student who comes through his door. Not only that, but he gives students the tools and confidence they need to be in charge of their own learning, and places an emphasis on critical thinking.”
Carter was quoted as saying that “Teaching has been most rewarding when showing others what they have taught me. My students push me to listen more, celebrate more and to show them why I love what I do,” and, “every day, teachers must blend life lessons, content, assessments, feedback and a sprinkling of high-fives all in pursuit of impacting a young life. But the true impact of educating others is as much about sharing knowledge as it is learning from them.”
Five other finalists were named during this ceremony, including Christian Johnson (grade five teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School), Shannon Johnson (S.T.A.T teacher at Arbutus Middle School), Molly LaBricciosa (AVID coordinator and English teacher at Pikesville High School), Meaghan O’Reilly (visual arts teacher at Pikesville High School) and Ryan Twentey (visual arts teacher at Parkville High School).
Corey Carter received his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from UMBC (’08) as well as a Master in arts in education, secondary science from UMBC (’10). He was a Sherman Scholar at UMBC, is an active alumnus and a member of Sherman Program Alumni Advisory Board. He has been teaching for six years, previously teaching at Rayner Brown Elementary Middle School in Baltimore for three years before coming to teach at Old Court Middle School in Pikesville. Carter is also the team leader for his grade level.
