Bryan Goehring, a science teacher at Takoma Park Middle School, has received the Teacher of the Year award for Montgomery County and a chance to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year. The surprise announcement took place at the Champions for Children gala on April 21st at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. Champions for Children honors outstanding Montgomery County Public Schools teachers, administrators, supporting services employees, and community volunteers. The gala is sponsored by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education.

A teacher for nearly 20 years, Goehring is now a seventh grade science teacher and the seventh grade team leader. He has made science a favorite course at Takoma Park Middle School.

In Goehring’s classroom, students are engaged with interactive, hands-on projects, games and lessons, sometimes using fun gadgets and gizmos. Goehring created his own web page so that students and parents can get information about his classes, ask questions or learn more about science topics. As the science department chair, this collaborative leader offers teachers suggestions and strategies to improve student achievement.

An energetic influence in student lives, his work with students doesn’t stop when he leaves the classroom. He tutors, coaches youth football and sponsors a full load of extracurricular activities, including the Junior Civitans, and the Yearbook, Newspaper, Forensic and Ski clubs. Goehring accompanies students on a monthly trip to serve food at a homeless shelter and organizes a food drive during the holidays for needy families.

This fall, county Teacher of the Year winners from the 24 Maryland jurisdictions will be honored at a ceremony sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education, where the Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced.