Walter Johnson High School cross-country and track and field coach Tom Martin is on a short list for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) National Coach of the Year award, beating out nearly 200 other nominees nationwide, according to the PCA.
Three other staff members from Montgomery County have also been recognized for their accomplishments this year by other organizations.
The PCA is a nonprofit “committed to making youth sports positive, equitable, and accessible for all kids regardless of social or economic circumstance,” according to its website. The National Coach of the Year contest honors youth coaches who teach life skills through sports, use positive reinforcement and create an environment of belonging, according to the PCA website.
As a top 10 finalist, Martin will receive $500 and recognition on the PCA website. According to the nonprofit, the winner of the contest will be selected no later than Thursday.
According to the PCA post about Martin, his actions show the importance of supporting friends, being helpful and remaining lighthearted in the face of stress.
The coach with 29 years under his belt at Walter Johnson told The Pitch, the Bethesda high school’s student newspaper, that he tries to be a role model for others and wants to see young people succeed.
“When you think of the word positive, that’s who he is,” assistant track coach and WJ alum Kelyn Soong told The Pitch.
If Martin is selected as the PCA national coach of the year, he will receive $5,000 for Walter Johnson or the cross-country and track and field program. Martin will also receive an all-expenses paid trip with a guest to San Francisco to be honored the nonprofit’s Game Changer Awards and Benefit on May 22.
Martin didn’t respond to email requests for comment.
Teachers win highest math and science award from U.S. government
Joan Shane, a math content specialist at Sligo Middle School in Silver Spring, and Krishni Patrick, a fifth-grade teacher at Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park, were two of six Maryland teachers and 336 nationally who received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), according to MCPS. PAEMST is the highest award given by the U.S. government to math and science teachers for kindergarten through grade 12.
According to a Jan. 13 press release from former President Joe Biden announcing the winners, nominees complete a rigorous application process and are assessed by a panel of “distinguished mathematicians, scientists, and educators at the state and national levels.”
Teachers are selected based on distinction in the classroom and their dedication to improving STEM education, according to the press release. They are awarded $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and are provided access to a network of teachers who have also won the award.
According to MCPS, Shane said her teaching philosophy is to make students feel comfortable and ready to learn math. Patrick said her approach to teaching science revolves around creating learning experiences where her students thrive, according to MCPS.
High school social worker recognized with local peacemaker award
Emily Callaghan, a social worker at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, was recognized with the Martin Luther King Peacemaker Award in January.
Presented by the Montgomery County Street Outreach Network, a part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the award recognizes individuals who contribute to peacemaking efforts and community improvement, according to MCPS.
