Congratulations to ESOL teacher Jeremy Montes was recognized at the annual FCPS Honors event as the 2017 Region 1 Outstanding Secondary New Teacher and one of five finalists for this year's Outstanding Secondary New Teacher Award.

When Jeremy began teaching ESOL at Herndon Middle School in 2015, he was given the classes that contained students with behavioral and instructional challenges. Two years later, he’s been so successful that his students can turn to their neighbors and discuss pre-Algebra in a second language they’re still learning. Colleagues credit Jeremy’s success to his willingness to try new strategies, a talent for differentiating and the fact that he’s a team player. “His positivity is both calming and infectious,” says one. Jeremy studied hard to learn Spanish, provided video lessons and reached out to families to reinforce positive behavior, but he says his best support came from his co-teachers. “Teaching ELL is a team effort, he says. “You can’t expect to accomplish much alone.”

• See Mr. Monte's page on the FCPS website

Congratulations also to the other Rocky Run Middle School employees recognized at the event.

Outstanding Secondary Teacher School-level Recipient

• Heather Ziab, (English Teacher)