McCarthy-Clark named county’s Teacher of the Year

    AUGUSTA — Sixteen Maine teachers were named County Teachers of the Year on May 6 as Education Commissioner Jim Rier, Senate President Justin Alfond, State Board Vice Chair Peter Geiger, 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year Karen MacDonald and Educate Maine Executive Director Tanna Clews were on hand at a Hall of Flags ceremony to recognize and honor this talented group of educators from around the state.

    McCarthy-Clark

   The honor for Piscataquis County’s top teacher went to Dyan McCarthy-Clark, who teaches grade 6-8 social studies at the SeDoMoCha Middle School in Dover-Foxcroft. “Mrs. M-C”, as she is known to her students, has held this position since 1987 with the exception of serving one year as a K-5 assistant principal in the district. 
    McCarthy-Clark started her teaching career in 1977 as an industrial arts teacher in Walpole, Mass. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maine Portland-Gorham (now USM) and a Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Maine. McCarthy-Clark has served as an adjunct professor at Husson University working with pre-service teachers.
    McCarthy-Clark was nominated by Sue Mackey Andrews of Dover-Foxcroft, who wrote, “In Dyan’s classroom all children are valued and all children are equal. She transports her confidence and trust in children in her conversations with their parents, which is an incredible.”
    The 2014 County Teachers of the Year are among the 376 Maine teachers who were nominated in February under the expanded Teacher of the Year program. A distinguished panel of teachers, principals and business community members made the County Teacher of the Year selections.
    The County Teachers of the Year, one of whom will be selected as the 2015 State Teacher of the Year, serve as ambassadors for teachers, students and quality education and are available to make presentations to local and regional organizations. They will continue to participate in an intensive State Teacher of the Year selection process, including submitting a video showcasing their classroom instructional practices. The field will be narrowed to eight semi-finalists who will begin working on their professional portfolio, a component of the National Teacher of the Year process. After the portfolio review and presentations to a select panel, the field is narrowed to four finalists. The 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year will be selected after a school site visit and final interview.
    “Maine students are being inspired each day by the effective, engaging educators we are fortunate to have in so many of our classrooms and the 16 teachers being recognized today are the best of the best,” said Commissioner Rier said. “These teachers deserve to know they are valued and respected, and through our expanded Teacher of the Year program, we can come together as a state to show our thanks for their incredible commitment to our children and our communities.”
    “The Maine Teacher of the Year program offers a tremendous opportunity to promote and highlight the noblest of professions,” said Tim Hussey, President & CEO of Hussey Seating and Chair of the Board of Educate Maine. “A strong education system relies on high quality, dedicated teachers and we are so pleased to recognize these 16 teachers who will serve as ambassadors for their school, county and fellow teachers. Congratulations to these exemplary teachers and to all the teachers who were nominated for County Teacher of the Year.”
    Bangor Savings Bank, Geiger, Hannaford Supermarkets and Unum provide funding for the Teacher of the Year program. The program is managed by Educate Maine in partnership with the Maine Department of Education, with special thanks to the Maine State Board of Education and the Maine State Teacher of the Year Association for their support and advice.