Liberty's DiLeonardi Selected as Finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year Award

Patricia DiLeonardi, a social studies teacher at Liberty High School, has been selected as one of seven finalists for the 2012-2013 Maryland Teacher of the Year. 

DiLeonardi began her teaching career at Liberty High School in 2001 as a substitute teacher. Since 2005, she has been a full time teacher.

Her classes include Advance Placement History, Honors US History, Government, Psychology, Issues in American Society, Sociology, Political Science and Teen Leadership.

DiLeonardi is a Nationally Board Certified teacher and counts that as her greatest accomplishment in education. According to DiLeonardi, national certification has made her more aware of what she does and how it affects her students. 

In addition to her involvement at Liberty High School, DiLeonardi has been involved in teaching county educators how to infuse the curriculum with service learning opportunities and writing the new Issues in American Society curriculum which focuses on poverty and violence in the media.

DiLeonardi credits her mother and father, as well as many of her teachers, for her decision to become a teacher.

“I wanted to have a hand in molding the future. I believe that each child is unique and has something amazing to offer the world,” DiLeonardi said in a release. 

According to Tom Clowes, Principal of Liberty High School, “Mrs. DiLeonardi is a very caring, compassionate teacher who strives to make sure that each student feels wanted and respected in the class.” 

The Carroll County Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual who represents in the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program, and possibly the National Teacher of the Year Program. Working in collaboration with the , 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. 

The Maryland Teacher of the Year will be named at an Awards Gala to be held on Friday, October 5, 2012, at Martin’s West.

Information in this article was taken from a Board of Education news release.