Creative Musician Awarded HCPS Teacher of the Year

Hall's Cross Roads Elementary School rejoices as vocal music teacher Christian Slattery Sr. is named Harford County's 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year.

“He is talented as a performing musician, he's creative in both thought and action, and most importantly, connects personally with the children and parents in the Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary community,” said Harford County Public Schools Supervisor of Music James E. Boord II, who nominated Slattery for the award.

Harford County Board of Education President Mark M. Wolkow and Superintendent of Schools Robert M. Tomback Ph.D made the announcement of Slattery's victory on Thursday evening at the Harford County Teacher of the Year Banquet.

The Bayou Restaurant in Havre de Grace hosted the event, which included guests such as County Executive David R. Craig, members of the Maryland Senate, local teachers, and the anxious families of the 10 teachers competing for the award.

“Each of our 10 finalists, including Mr. Slattery, represent the teaching excellence of more than 3,000 teachers in Harford County," Tomback said in a prepared statement. “The commitment these talented educators have to teaching our students is the key to our success in raising academic achievement. I am very proud of their accomplishments.”

A self-taught musician from the age of 8, Slattery would go on to study elementary music teaching methods at West Chester University. Slattery has been a teacher in Harford County for nine years, and is revered in his school for his creative approaches to teaching and his “raps,” according to the HCPS statement.

As Harford County's Teacher of the Year, Slattery will “receive free use of a brand new 2011 Hyundai Sonata for one year courtesy of Jones Junction, a Dell laptop computer, a watch from Saxon’s Diamond Centers, and an engraved globe and plaque,” the statement said.

Slattery will soon compete with top educators across the state for Maryland Teacher of Year, a title that will award the winner a position as a state education spokesperson.

“During my many classroom observations of Mr. Slattery, I have witnessed the explosion of excitement for learning, which comes from intentional planning, knowing your students and aligning the curriculum to real-world connections, " saidHis passion for teaching, learning and music have no boundaries or restrictions.” said Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School Principal Gwendolyn Jones. "His love for teaching is contagious to all.”