Frederick County Woman Named Teacher Of The Year

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- A chemistry teacher from Frederick County will be honored by the president Tuesday.

Jessica Kartalija reports a Maryland woman has been named the National Teacher of the Year.

At Urbana High School in Frederick County, chemistry teacher Michelle Shearer is in a class of her own.  The 14-year classroom veteran was just named the 2011 National Teacher of the Year.

"She invests so much time and energy into every student's education and she is able to motivate everyone," said senior Nosheen Moosvi.

Her colleague Jerry Walker wrote her nomination.

"It was difficult not to go on too long.  She is just truly the epitome of an excellent teacher," Walker said.  "She just knows how to teach."

She is also fluent in sign language.  Prior to coming to Urbana, she taught at the Maryland School for the Deaf.

Greg Chapman had Shearer as a teacher.  He says thanks to her advice, he became one.

"Students really want to do well in the class, well for her.  They want to learn, they want to be independent learners and I think that's amazing, given the difficulty of subject she teaches," Chapman said.

"The whole process she taught us about science made me want to study more science and go into something, possibly even chemistry," said Wally Maier.

Shearer was named Maryland Teacher of the Year in October, before being honored nationally.

She is spending the entire week in Washington, D.C.

Shearer earned her masters degree from McDaniel College in Westminster in 1996.