Two Frederick County Educators Finalists For Washington Post Educators Of the Year

Regional  winners will be announced in April.Mary Geeasey                                                      Justin McConneaugheyFrederick, Md (KM) Two local educators have been named finalists in The Washington Post Teacher and Principal the Year Awards.One of them is Walkersville Elementary School teacher Mary Geasey who is a special education instructor. She has been with Frederick County Public Schools for 18 years. Prior to coming to Walkersville Elementary, Geasey taught at Middletown Primary and Kemptown Elementary Schools. She is in the Vanguard Teacher program, and is a member of the Teacher Advisory Council and the Frederick County Teachers Association’s Leadership Development Council.Geasey earned a master’s degree in Special  Education from Frostburg State University, a master of arts in Elementary Education from West Virginia University where she also earned her bachelor of arts in multidisciplinary studies.Named as finalist for The Washington Post Principal of the Year is Justin McConnaughey, who is the principal at Hillcrest Elementary School. He has been with the School System for 20-years, starting out as a physical education teacher. He then became an assistant principle and later a principle. Before coming to Hillcrest Elementary, McConnaughey was principle at Brunswick Elementary School. He was also an assistant principle at Spring Ridge and Walkersville Elementary Schools. In 2016, McConnaughey was named National Outstanding Assistant Principle of the Year.McConnaughey earned a bachelor of arts degree in Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction both from Shepherd University.In April, The Post will announce one regional winner each for Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year. The awardees will receive a signature trophy, and a $7500 monetary award, along with a half-page feature spot in The Washington Post newspaper.By Kevin McManus