At this afternoon’s virtual meeting, the Frederick County Board of Education honored the fourth annual FCPS Substitute Teacher of the Year Craig Zearfoss. Zearfoss began substituting after he retired from FCPS as a mathematics teacher in 2010.
According to nomination materials, Zearfoss goes way above and beyond teachers’ expectations by continuing with the curriculum while the teacher is absent. As he is able to teach the material, students can make the most of continuing valuable instruction time.
Mathematics teachers from multiple high schools recommended Zearfoss for this award. One colleague put it this way: “Craig is an exceptional mathematics teacher, and so when we must leave our classroom, our instruction seamlessly continues and our students never miss a beat.”
Others also mentioned how important Zearfoss’s past experience as a mathematics teacher is to his current position. They report that he will painstakingly go through each lesson to ensure that he knows what topics he will be teaching, and he is able to use his vast experience to adapt the lesson to his skill set and the students' needs.
An observation by one colleague was that “perhaps the best thing when Mr. Z is in the building is the friendly conversations, great attitude and that gentle laugh. Having him at lunch brings smiles and a positive effect all around.”