Teacher In The Running For National Honor

URBANA, Md. (AP) -- She is Frederick County and Maryland's Teacher of the Year, and now Urbana High School chemistry teacher Michelle Shearer has another superlative to add to those: Last week she was named one of four finalists for the national top teacher award.

Shearer joins teachers from Florida, Illinois and Montana for the top honor bestowed by the Council of Chief State School Officials.

While the local and state contests came with substantial prize packages, the national honor comes with considerable responsibilities that will take Shearer out of the classroom for a year, should she be selected.

"The prize in this contest is the honor of the position," Shearer said last week. "It is a public relations position."

The national winner travels to about 150 events and meetings over the year, acting as an advocate and spokesman for education.

Shearer said she received a phone call from state Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick about a week ago, informing her of her selection as a finalist.

After discussing the potential sacrifices that would have to be made with her husband, George, a fellow Urbana High teacher, she accepted the honor and committed to moving forward with the competition.

"At that point, you have the opportunity to decline and remove yourself from further consideration," Shearer said. "I'm fortunate to have a wonderful support system in my family and my colleagues, and we're prepared to do whatever is needed, should I be selected."

Shearer said her responsibilities as Maryland's top teacher have already taken her out of the classroom quite a bit. She credited co-teacher Wayne Rousculp for ensuring the continuity of instruction for her advanced placement chemistry students.

Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Linda Burgee said she was excited but not surprised that Shearer was named a national finalist.

"One only has to spend a few minutes in her classroom to know that she is an outstanding educator," Burgee wrote in an e-mail to The Frederick News-Post. "Michelle is extremely bright, articulate and will serve as an outstanding representative for teachers across this nation."

Grasmick called Shearer "a true educator" who works "diligently every day to help her students get the most out of the classroom experience."

Shearer received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Princeton University and a master's degree in deaf education from McDaniel College.

In addition to her local and state teacher of the year honors, Shearer was the 2009 Maryland recipient of the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement Teaching.

The four national finalists will be interviewed by a panel in March. Traditionally, the president announces the national winner during a May ceremony at the White House.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)