Charles County’s Teacher of the Year has received many accolades…and keys to a brand new Kia Optima from Kia of Waldorf. The Charles County Board of Education took time of their regular meeting to honor Charles County 2012 Teacher of the Year Kerrie Seberg,  a third grade teacher at William A. Diggs Elementary School in Waldorf.

Seberg graduated from Broadneck High School in Arnold and then attended Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and English while teaching sailing.

After graduation, Seberg worked in biology labs where she found the work monotonous and tedious. However, she didn’t catch the “teaching bug” until she was teaching children to ski at a ski area.

She then attended State University of New York College where she received a Master’s degree in teaching. Upon graduation, Seberg interviewed for a teaching position at Diggs. Principal Sandra Taylor noted that at the 2007 interview, “I knew Kerrie would evolve into a master teacher very quickly.” Seberg finds teaching exciting and every day is fun because the “children have the willingness to learn and are not afraid to learn.”

In addition to her teaching, Seberg is the co-sponsor for Destination ImagiNation (DI) where students use their imagination to solve complicated challenges. She also chairs the school’s Green Committee, volunteers to work with the Parent Teacher Organization and helps students with math and reading after school through the Extended Learning Opportunity program.

Seberg was working with Extended Learning students in reading when she was told the school was nominating her for the Teacher of the Year award. She told the Board of Education that she was honored to be chosen as the Teacher of the Year and she is humbled by the nomination because of the many talented, dedicated teachers she works with.

Seberg is eligible for the Maryland Teacher of the Year award. The state winner is announced by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in the fall at a special ceremony held in honor of all local recipients. The state winner is also considered for the National Teacher of the Year honor.

For more information on the awards program, visit the MSDE website at www.msde.maryland.gov/MSDE/programs/recognition-partnerships/toy_1/