Mayor Bowser Announces Jermar Rountree as 2023 DC Teacher of the Year During Surprise Celebration

(Washington, DC) – At the moment, Mayor Muriel Bowser offered Jermar Rountree, a pre-Ok by means of eighth grade well being and bodily training instructor at Heart Metropolis Public Constitution College’s Brightwood campus, with the 2023 DC Trainer of the 12 months Award. The Mayor was joined by State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant and Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood college students and employees to shock Coach Rountree with the award. The distinguished honor, which comes with a $7,500 prize, is awarded yearly to a DC Public College or public constitution college instructor who has demonstrated excellent management and dedication to pupil achievement.

“Jermar Rountree – or, as his college students name him, Coach Rountree – is an excellent educator who takes time on daily basis to verify in with college students and households,” stated Mayor Bowser. “He goes above and past to construct neighborhood and equip college students with the abilities essential to succeed not simply at school however in life, and we will’t wait to cheer for Coach Roundtree as he competes for Nationwide Trainer of the 12 months.”

Along with being named DC Trainer of the 12 months, Mr. Rountree is now within the working for the Nationwide Trainer of the 12 months Award, which is run by the Council of Chief State College Officers (CCSSO). He may even obtain a further $2,500 to assist journey to nationwide conferences, workshops, and different skilled growth alternatives throughout his one-year time period as 2023 DC Trainer of the 12 months.

“Coach Rountree is the kind of instructor whose ardour, concepts, and efforts have helped construct a faculty tradition the place all really feel welcome, seen, and supported,” stated State Superintendent Christina Grant. “He devotes his time and skills to positively influence the lives of each baby within the constructing from pre-Ok to center college, and he’s hyper-focused on ensuring each baby has the well being instruction they should thrive.”

Workplace of the State Superintendent of Schooling (OSSE) additionally awarded $1,500 to a few different 2022 DC Trainer of the 12 months finalists: Alex Clark, a well being and bodily training instructor at Dunbar Excessive College; Brandyn Marshall Poole, a arithmetic instructor at Heart Metropolis PCS-Trinidad; and Luz Mireya Pelaez Lopez, a pre-Ok twin language instructor within the Spanish Immersion Program at Marie Reed Elementary College.

Mr. Rountree has been instructing for 16 years, six of which have been at Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood. He has a bachelor’s diploma in historical past from Western Connecticut State College and holds a grasp’s diploma in elementary training from Relay Graduate College of Schooling. Mr. Rountree began his profession on the YMCA in Danbury, CT in 2004 working with kids of all ages. On the identical time, Mr. Rountree began his personal bodily training enterprise instructing day care personnel on how one can ship secure and enjoyable bodily training to their college students. In 2012, Mr. Rountree moved to Washington, DC to start instructing bodily training and well being on the elementary college degree.

“Jermar fashions character for all stakeholders in our neighborhood. He’s respectful, affected person, and all the time tremendous optimistic. He’s the kind of instructor who understands the significance of constructing robust relationships with college students and their households throughout all grade ranges and works very arduous to take action,” stated Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood Principal Rachel Tommelleo. “His dedication and keenness for doing proper by children each day is like no different! Our faculty is a tremendous place to develop and be taught due to academics like Coach Rountree.”

Within the Heart Metropolis community, Mr. Rountree additionally serves because the District Trainer Lead for the Bodily Schooling and Well being Division. Outdoors of Heart Metropolis, Mr. Rountree has led the OSSE Bodily Schooling Cadre which evaluates elementary by means of secondary well being curricula and shares that info with bodily educators all through the district.

At Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood, Mr. Rountree teaches not solely actions and athletics, but additionally teaches college students about their social, emotional, and psychological progress, and thrives on connecting his college students with the neighborhood. He established in-school, afterschool, and weekend partnerships with organizations to assist his college students develop in a number of sides of life. By means of his work, Mr. Rountree serves as a voice of the neighborhood and has relationships with each pupil and household that attends Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood.

“Our educators play an necessary function in guaranteeing that our college students are ready for lifelong studying, fulfilling careers, and financial safety,” stated Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis, Govt Director, DC Public Constitution College Board (DC PCSB). “By means of his demonstrated excellence and management, Jermar Rountree has constantly upheld his dedication to the expansion, growth, and success of his college students, which is why I’m honored to have a good time him as our 2023 DC Trainer of the 12 months.”

As a well being and bodily training instructor, Mr. Rountree believes in a holistic method to training and connects with households not solely to assist well being and bodily training, but additionally to assist college students develop robust social-emotional, math, studying, and demanding pondering abilities. Day by day at arrival and dismissal, Mr. Rountree checks in with all 150 Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood households to realize perception into their house life and makes use of that info to assist plan classes and drive pupil interactions all through the day.

Up to now yr, Mr. Rountree created classes to assist college students develop wholesome consuming habits and share details about wholesome consuming of their neighborhood. With a give attention to fairness, the lesson helped college students query why some neighborhoods have more healthy choices and why it may be costlier to keep up a nutritious diet.

As Membership Facilitator and District Trainer Lead for PE and Well being of the Heart Metropolis PCS community, Mr. Rountree performs a big half in strengthening the tradition of pupil athletes and creating extracurricular actions for the varsity neighborhood. He has hosted health lessons and health-focused occasions for households, a back-to-school BBQ, a enjoyable run, and a household film evening. Mr. Rountree streamlined Heart Metropolis PCS-Brightwood’s before- and after-school program, launched a swimming program for center college college students, and arranged enjoyable packages corresponding to a fencing membership, robotics, and household boot camps.

“Bodily well being is so necessary, and one thing that underserved communities usually lack,” stated Coach Rountree in his Trainer of the 12 months utility. “…My aim is to raise this dialog in order that DC Public Faculties, DC PCSB and different stakeholders can start the work in ensuring bodily training and well being necessities are met all through Washington, DC. I’m extraordinarily keen about instructing college students all of the methods to maintain their our bodies wholesome and offering a plethora of ways in which they’ll just do that. Sooner or later, I hope that every one educators aspire to do the identical.”

For extra info on the DC Trainer of the 12 months program, go to the OSSE web site.

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