Six Charles County Public Schools teachers were recently honored by the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) for their accomplishments in the area of mathematics and science.
Honored as Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year were: Christina Greer of Eva Turner Elementary School; Kellie Harding of John Hanson Middle School; and Judith Bockstoce of North Point High School.
Honored as Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year were: Kimberly Stillwell of J. P. Ryon Elementary School; Beth Levy, General Smallwood Middle School; and Robert Bushman, La Plata High School.
Greer teaches elementary level geometry, probability, algebra, measurement, statistics and problem solving at Turner. She uses practical applications with her students to enforce class lessons, such as balancing a homework completion checkbook and tracking money students earn for completing assignments. Greer also works with her students to develop helpful games based on math skills that students can practice with a parent at home. She is also a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and provides peer coaching.
Harding teaches sixth grade general mathematics at Hanson and is the assistant sixth-grade team leader. She serves as the co-department chair and is incorporating a new program, Algebraic Thinking, into her lessons to assist students who struggle with math. Harding is also a member of the National Middle School Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Harding also works with her students to help them improve their classroom grades and score better on county math assessments.
Bockstoce teaches algebra, geometry, trigonometry with probability and statistics and advanced algebra with trigonometry at North Point. She is the department chair and participates in the school’s extended day program. Bockstoce also incorporates graphing calculators into her lessons and shows her students how to solve math problems with and without the use of technology. She also mentors new teachers and assists with the National Society of Professional Surveyors annual National Trig-Star competition.
Stillwell serves as the science resource teacher at Ryon. She sponsors the Just Say No Club, coordinates the school recycling program and teaches mathematics in the school’s extended day program. She also teaches a course on robotics with fifth-grade students and is the Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) advisor. Stillwell also participates in summer engineering programs with scientists from the Department of Defense and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Indian Head division.
Levy teaches seventh grade life science and eighth grade physical science at Smallwood. She sponsors the in-school robotics program with seventh graders and works with NSWC and engineers from the College of Southern Maryland. Levy also is part of the school’s extended learning opportunity program, and takes evening science workshops, project learning tree and robolab robotics training.
Bushman teaches biology and biomedical sciences at La Plata. He is the Project Lead the Way biomedical sciences master teacher and leads training sessions to guide teachers through the curriculum. Bushman also designs lab activities that provide hands-on opportunities for students to help students fully u