Kenneth Fischer ’00, a science teacher and department chairperson at Winters Mill High School, was named Carroll County Teacher of the Year May 2 during the Board of Education’s employee recognition ceremony. He will go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year this fall.

“I see myself in almost every student I teach, and when I am successful, it makes me feel really good about myself,” says Fischer. “Some days are tough but I never go home without feeling proud about something one of my students has done.”

Fischer teaches Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, and Freshman Seminar. He provides daily feedback to students and parents, addresses individual needs, and advises students to take the most rigorous level of coursework possible. Fischer coaches the cross-country and track teams, and mentors three new teachers. As a paramedic, he coordinates CPR instruction in Carroll County Public Schools and teaches CPR to teachers, coaches, and transportation personnel. 

 “Ken believes the foundation to a successful learning environment is built on strong personal relationships,” says Sherri Bream, principal of Winters Mill High School. “This is true in the classroom or on the athletic field. His work as a teacher, coach, and advisor has allowed him to make personal connections with students and parents and build a sense of trust. This environment has resulted in high performing students and exceptional athletic teams.”

Fischer originally planned to become a doctor, but two people changed his mind. The first was a friend who had only months to live and advised Fischer to choose a career that matched his creativity. The second was Mathematics Professor Emeritus and College Historian James Lightner, who Fischer says recognized that he would make a good teacher even before he knew it himself.

“We talked about what he should be doing and I said ‘You can find your own niche,’” Lightner says. “I saw the award and thought it was such a nice honor to come to a young teacher who works hard.”

Fischer, who joined Winter’s Mill High School in 2002, earned his bachelor’s degree at McDaniel College in ’00 and went on to earn an M.S. in School Administration from the College in 2004.

"I’ve taken what I learned about school administration, applied it to my department and implemented professional learning communities,” says Fischer. “McDaniel gave me the ability to not only affect instruction in my own classes, but have an impact in a lot more classrooms because of how I work collaboratively."

The Carroll County Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual who represents Carroll County teachers in the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program, and possibly the National Teacher of the Year Program.  Working in collaboration with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, this year’s finalists for Teacher of the Year were selected by the Chamber of Commerce as winners of the Chamber’s Outstanding Teacher Awards.