Hagerstown finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year visited New Delhi schools this summer

A Salem Avenue Elementary School teacher is one of seven finalists competing to be the the 2023-24 Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Raymond Weber, a 13-year fifth-grade teacher at Salem, "empowers students to realize their potential and develops their knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in and beyond the classroom," according to a news release from the Maryland State Board of Education and Maryland State Department of Education.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity. It's such an honor to be selected as one of the finalists," Weber said Monday night in a phone interview.

The Falling Waters, W.Va., resident said he's grateful for the chance to show his passion for teaching and engage in a conversation with the judges in Baltimore this Saturday about his "teaching journey."

Weber is the sixth consecutive WCPS Teacher of the Year to become a finalist for the state award, according to Washington County Public Schools.

He has taught math and English Language Arts at Salem Avenue Elementary in Hagerstown's West End.

How were the finalists selected?

The finalists were selected by a panel of judges from key Maryland education organizations representing principals, teachers, school boards, teacher unions, parents and higher education, according to the release. Finalists were chosen according to rigorous national criteria that included student achievement, teaching philosophy, academic results, community involvement and knowledge of educational issues from a group of 24 local teachers of the year, representing the 24 Maryland local education agencies.

Weber was named 2023-2024 Washington County Teacher of the Year in April.

When will the Maryland Teacher of the Year winner be announced?

The 2023-2024 Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced during a reception and dinner at Martin’s West in Baltimore on Oct. 13, according to the release. The winner will receive cash awards and national traveling opportunities and participate in national meetings and conferences.

What happens to the MD Teacher of the Year winner next?

The selected Maryland Teacher of the Year will compete for the National Teacher of the Year Award, to be announced in April. Maryland’s Teacher of the Year will also spend the 2023-24 school year as an educational speaker and adviser in Maryland and will be honored by the president at the White House next spring, according to the release.

Maryland has celebrated its Teacher of the Year Program and participated in the National Teacher of the Year Program for 33 years, according to the release. In the last 10 years, Maryland has had five national finalists, with three going on to become the National Teacher of the Year.

What is Raymond Weber's background?

Weber earned his bachelor’s in elementary education at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and master’s in instructional design and technology at West Virginia University, according to the news release.

He is a team leader, curriculum writer and mentor for Destination Imagination and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and is a Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms.

What has Washington County's Teacher of the Year been up to?

Weber, 37, said he spent almost a month this summer in New Delhi thanks to the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program.

"That was phenomenal. I enjoyed every minute of it," he said.

Weber said he wanted to be in an environment that was "completely new" to him, to get a sense of what it's like for students who are new to the U.S. So many students new to the country, known as English Learners or EL students, are in Washington County Public Schools and he has several in class at Salem.

The school's EL teachers are "phenomenal," he said.

Weber said he's teaching three 90-minute math classes this year and it's interesting to see how well the EL students excel in math while progressing with their reading. Sometimes the hindrance is their understanding the word problem, but once they figure that out, they excel at the math part, he said.

The culture, traditions and students in India were welcoming and came willing and ready to learn every day, he said.

"I never got used to, every time I would walk into a classroom, the students would stand up," he said.

Another local teacher's journey: 'Nervous, excited, scared': Hagerstown man goes from English language learner to teacher

Weber said he worked with all ages, from what we refer to as elementary to high school age, depending on which school he was in that day. Many of the schools had students from kindergarten to level 11 or 12 in the same school.

Most of the lessons he was asked to present were for fractions, so educators could see the types of strategies he used. Not every school had English-speaking students so he was assisted by a translator who spoke Hindi.

Weber said he spoke to the Hagerstown Business and Professional Women, at their invitation, on Monday night about his experience working in India's education system.

As part of his capstone project for the Fulbright program, he created a blog about his experiences in India.

After India and a family vacation, Weber said he was excited to spend the $6,000 he received from the school system — $5,000 for being named Teacher of the Year and $1,000 for being a local finalist.

"I'm so excited every day when I walk in my room and see everything," Weber said. He hopes the changes also get students excited every day.

He bought a "learning bar," an L-shaped standing desk with stools to work with students in small groups. The learning bar gives students who might be fidgety sitting at their desks a chance to stand while learning.

Weber also bought a new terrarium for the class pet, a blue-tongued skink he's had since his first year teaching at Salem. After spending another summer break in the front office with Ms. Shawn Grove, Avatar was back in class for his 14th year as class pet. Avatar was named by Weber's first class, which was around the time the movie of the same name came out, he said.

The students feed the lizard and are responsible for cleaning his terrarium, and food and water bowls.

Who were the other teachers nominated for Maryland Teacher of the Year?

The other finalists include Mary Kay Connerton, Anne Arundel County; Brianne Sounder, Cecil County; Nicole Rhoades, Frederick County; Andrea Schulte, Queen Anne’s County; Tara Martens, Wicomico County; and Dr. Jaimie Ridgely, Worcester County.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown teacher finalist in MD Teacher of the Year contest