The prestigious award, named for one of the College’s most highly respected career educators, is presented each year to a McDaniel College master’s degree recipient who has made a significant contribution to the field of education.

Varakin earned her master’s degree at McDaniel College in 1991, and currently serves as elementary supervisor of curriculum and instruction for Carroll County Public Schools. Throughout her tenure with the school system (1989-present), Varakin has held significant literacy and leadership positions including classroom teacher, integrated language arts specialist, assistant principal and elementary school principal. From 1993-1995, Varakin capably assumed the role of coordinator of the College’s Reading Clinic, and also served as a well-respected adjunct instructor in the Graduate Reading Program (1992-2003).

Varakin began her teaching career at Lincoln Elementary School in Perry, Iowa after completing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Northern, Iowa. Prior to her arrival in Carroll County, Varakin’s cumulative teaching experiences have included Department of Defense appointments in Kenitra, Morocco; Iwakuni, Japan; Misawa, Japan; and Vaihingen, Germany. Ms. Varakin also taught kindergarten in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Following the completion of her Master of Science degree in Reading, Varakin returned to the Hill to obtain her certification in administration. She has also completed doctoral coursework in Literacy Education at the University of Maryland. Varakin’s research interests have focused on early literacy practices and more specifically the use of informational text with primary level readers. As an advocate for literacy development, Varakin has presented innovative ideas and teaching practices at local, state, national, and international levels. She recently conducted an informative session on expository text use at the International Reading Association World Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Varakin has been instrumental in developing and piloting a full-day kindergarten curriculum. She has also readily shared her early childhood expertise through conducting informative pre-literacy workshops for parents of preschoolers. Throughout her distinguished career, Varakin has changed the lives of students, teachers, parents and colleagues. She exemplifies the vision of the McDaniel College Education Department -- she truly is a “knowledgeable, caring, and reflective practitioner.”

The family of Joseph R. Bailer established the award to honor Dr. Bailer’s career as chairman of the McDaniel Education department and director of the graduate program from 1949-71. Dr. Bailer, who died in 1974, was a primary contributor to the growth of the graduate program. Both as a mentor and as an outstanding example of an educator, he influenced the lives of hundreds of McDaniel College students, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles in educational programs in Maryland and beyond.

The Bailer Award rotates among the college’s various certificate programs in administration, counselor education, education of the deaf, curriculum and instruction, elementary and secondary education, school library media, reading, and special education.

For more information, contact Michele Leiberman, associate director of media relations, at (410) 857-2293.