Talbot County Public Schools held a “star-studded” celebration honoring teachers and support staff and announced this year’s winners of Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year at the Milestone in Easton on April 11. The Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Program provides the opportunity to recognize outstanding educators who have innovative ideas, focus positive attention on education, and demonstrate superior commitment to students.
The 2019-2020 Talbot Teacher of the Year is Mr. Kevin Carroll. Mr. Carroll teaches Special Education Self-Contained/Functional Living Skills at Easton High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education K-12 from Grand Canyon University and a Master of Arts in English (TESOL) in 2018. He began his career with TCPS as an Instructional Assistant in Special Education in 2008. Mr. Carroll’s responsibilities include conducting Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings and educational testing for students as well as Maryland State Alternative Testing for Special Ed and ELL. He plans and delivers Equity/CARE Professional Development for EHS staff, is the Department Chair for Special Education and serves as a Special Education Transition Coach. In addition, he is the TCPS Night School Manager for the Drop-out Prevention and Re-engagement program.
Mr. Carroll serves in numerous leadership roles advocating for and supporting all students. He is Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid Certified and is a Mentor to new Special Education Teachers.He has led Professional Development including a Courageous Conversations Summit and a workshop entitled “Voices of LGBTQ Students…What They Wish Their Teachers Knew.” He is an Easton High ELL Student Advocate/Mentor, assisting students with classroom assignment support, after school tutoring and college and career readiness and has worked in collaboration with Chesapeake College and the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center to develop a support group for ELL students.
Carroll has been recognized by parents through the Special Education Citizen Advisory Committee multiple times throughout his years working with special education students and their families. He has also been named the Giant Teacher of the Month and received Easton High’s Staff “R” for responsible Award.He has volunteered for Talbot Mentors and Special Olympics, and has served as Lead Director for YMCA Camp Lazy Days, a free 5 week summer camp for students with special needs.
Ms. Sindy Reyes has been chosen as the 2019-2020 Support Staff of the Year. Ms. Reyes is an English as a Second Language Instructional Assistant at Easton Elementary – Dobson, where she provides English language support services for kindergarten and newcomer students. A qualified English/Spanish Interpreter, she also assists with enrollment, parent-teacher conferences, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and special events.
Ms. Reyes has a degree in Elementary Education from Colegio Ana Geurra de Jesus, El Salvador and a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of El Salvador. She has also earned an Associate of Arts from Chesapeake College. She has worked for Talbot County Public Schools since 2001.In addition to her work at Easton Elementary, Ms. Reyes is a tutor at the Easton High Nigh School and an Equity Team member at EES Dobson.
Reyes is also very active in the community having served on the Affordable Housing Program Board since 2001 and on the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center Board. She holds leadership roles at the Iglesia Evangelica Emanuel in Easton MD as a worship leader, Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School coordinator.
“The quote, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’, describes these two individuals.” said Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent. “They each work at different ends of the educational spectrum, with Sindy serving our youngest and Kevin serving 14- 21 year-olds. Then at the end of the school day they work collaboratively to provide educational support for night school students.Both are so well deserving of this distinguished recognition for the commitment and passion they bring to TCPS! Congratulations to all of the nominees and finalists for making a difference in the lives of children.”
The finalists for both Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year were also recognized at the celebration.
Teacher of the Year Finalists: Lynn Aleman, fourth grade and ESOL teacher at EES – Moton; Christopher Flaherty, Instrumental Music Teacher and Band Directors at SMMHS, Caitlin McKee, Special Education Teacher, Easton Elementary – Dobson.
Support Staff of the Year Finalists: Anne McCauley, Behavior Counselor; Jennifer Miller, Senior Computer Technician; Quanesha Miller, Instructional Assistant, EES – Moton.
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