Mark Sunkel M.Ed. ’83 (left), a science teacher and department chair at Linganore High School, was awarded Teacher of the Year in Frederick County for 2006-2007. Sunkel teaches Biology and Advanced Placement Environmental Science. He will go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year this fall.

“It’s a challenge every day,” says Sunkel. “With the No Child Left Behind Act, we have to reach every student. Every day, we come up with new ideas and strategies to make them successful.”

Under his leadership, Linganore's Biology High School Assessment scores have risen to an 82.8 percent pass rate – the highest in the county and one of the highest in Maryland, according to Frederick County Public Schools.

Parent Maureen Dixon says that Sunkel ignited her daughter Bridget’s interest in science.

“He made the subject come alive for her," Dixon says. Her daughter is now a laboratory intern at Fort Detrick.

In addition to classroom duties, last year Sunkel developed a reference guide to Biology instruction. He has also written proposals that resulted in new equipment, training opportunities and numerous grants for Linganore High School.

Sunkel holds an M.A. in environmental science from Hood College, a master’s in secondary science education from McDaniel College and a B.S. from Washington and Lee University.