Frederick County Public Schools announces the 2020 Veteran in Education Service Award winner, Walkersville High School special education teacher Denise Green. In its fourth year, the award was created to honor an FCPS employee who has served our nation in the armed forces and provided exemplary service to FCPS and the community.
A committee of FCPS staff, community members and veterans reviewed this year’s eight nominations and chose the award winner. Nominees were veterans who demonstrate exemplary service to FCPS and the community by showing integrity and trustworthiness, perseverance in overcoming challenges, selflessness in helping others, and teamwork and loyalty. In addition to Green, nominees were Jason Blocher from Orchard Grove Elementary, Laurie Bohanan from Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle School, Ida Davis from Urbana High School, Thomas Hawthorne from Linganore High School, Alexander Owens from Oakdale Middle, Isaac Patterson from Tuscarora High and Dr. Christine Samuels from West Frederick Middle.
Denise Green retired from the United States Air Force after 21 years. While serving in the Air Force, she also volunteered on every base where the family lived, helping with projects such as constructing playgrounds, wrapping holiday gifts for those in need and tutoring struggling students. After retiring from the Air Force, she returned to school, attaining dual teacher certifications in special education and science.
At Walkersville High, Green works to meet the needs of all students, bringing science topics to life, immersing students in real-world experiences and working tirelessly to ensure the success of each student entrusted to her care. Former Walkersville Principal Tracey Kibler described Green as a woman of will and a pillar of strength for whom no battle or challenge is undefeatable. Kibler says that Green leads others by “finding the silver lining in all aspects of her journey…using humor and spirit” to overcome adversity. Her years in the Air Force “provided Denise with a diverse, empathetic lens for all people,” says Kibler.
Colleague Michelle Baughman has worked side by side with Green the past five years and admires the ways that Green “is a champion for ensuring special education students have the services and education that they deserve.” Baughman says she admires the ways that Green “works with integrity and trustworthiness in all that she does.”
Nominating Green for the FCPS Veteran in Education Service Award, instructional assistant Cammi Bittner and biology teacher Lori Stiles wrote that they have witnessed Green’s selflessness, teamwork, and loyalty. They explained that Green “was a biochemist working on amazing projects that are in practice today because of her talents,” and they applaud the ways she shares her former experience in the sciences to make the topics come ‘alive’ with amazing stories that bring the ‘real world’ to the classroom.
The Board of Education will recognize Green at their November 23 meeting, where she will receive an engraved plaque and gift sponsored by Woodsboro Bank. FCPS also honored Green at her school this morning and in the school system’s Veterans Day celebrations and recognition ceremonies.