left to right: FCPS Chief Operating Officer Paul Lebo, Urbana High Assistant Principal Mike Hombach, Supervisor David Bruchey, Veteran in Education Service Award Recipient Earl Gibson, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson, Board of Education President Sue Johnson, Woodsboro Bank Senior Vice President Chris Clemons, Board of Education Vice President Dean Rose, Woodsboro Bank Senior Vice President Bethany Lord and Board Member Karen Yoho. Gibson’s family members are holding the banner.
Urbana High School HVAC technician Earl Gibson is the 2023 Frederick County Public Schools Veteran in Education Service Award recipient.
In its seventh 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. Woodsboro Bank sponsors the annual Veteran in Education Award.
A committee of FCPS staff, community members and veterans reviewed this year’s five nominations and chose the recipient.
In addition to Gibson, nominees included:
- Emma Jackson, Lead Custodian, Yellow Springs Elementary
- Mateaki Niko, Volleyball Coach, Walkersville High School
- Michael Simpson, Transportation, Middletown
- Amanda Sinclair, Teacher, Yellow Springs Elementary
Gibson proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps as Lance Corporal, in Combat Logistics Battalion 8, specialized as a Refrigeration Mechanic. He has served FCPS with distinction for nearly four years.
Gibson is the HVAC/R Technician in Area 7, responsible for maintaining multi-million-dollar systems in eight school buildings. In his nomination, Chief Operating Officer Paul Lebo said “much of Mr. Gibson’s work occurs behind the scenes and without the recognition for the incredible responsibility he has, and he shows up each and every day with a desire to provide the learning environment that staff and students need and deserve.”
Fellow nominator, Supervisor David Bruchey shared that Gibson “…is an extremely diligent, self-driven and customer-service-oriented person”, and that he believes that Gibson’s service in the U.S. Marine Corps is where he has obtained his core values of Honor, Commitment and Courage.
Gibson was surprised with the news that he is this year’s Veteran in Education Service Award recipient by FCPS and Urbana High leaders, including Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson, Board of Education President Sue Johnson, Board of Education Vice President Dean Rose and Board Member Karen Yoho.