2 Teachers Take Top Honors

By Kristina Schnack Kotlus
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Two public school teachers in the Potomac Communities are taking home top honors from the Washington Post.

Maryann O’Brien, special education teacher at Forest Park High School and David Vita, music teacher at Anne E. Moncure Elementary, are among two teachers being honored this year as Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher of the Year award recipients.

The Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher award program was established by The Washington Post Company Educational foundation to recognize teachers who exemplify excellence in their profession.  According to Agnes Meyer materials, teachers selected for the award are recognized in May at a special ceremony, and are also awarded $3,000.

In Prince William County, O’Brien was selected out of a pool of 18 candidates. O’Brien earned her Masters Degree and Certificate in Alternative Education from George Mason University and worked at New Dominion Alternative Middle School from 1998-2003 before beginning her tenure at Forest Park High School, according to her profile on the Forest Park website.

Josh Miller, Supervisor of Special Education at Forest Park and Acting Assistant Principal said that “this award is very deserved.  Mrs.

O’Brien works very hard to ensure the success of her students both in and out of the classroom.  We’re all very proud of her.”

In an interview with Prince William County Schools, O’Brien shared that over her 12-year career in teaching she has found that “finding the key to unlock learning for students who don’t respond to traditional instruction and helping them discover their untapped potential is the most exciting part of being a teacher”.

These strategies appear to be working, as O’Brien’s students have a 100 percent pass rate at the highest level of performance on the Virginia Alternative Assessment program for the last six years.

From Stafford County Public Schools, Vita was selected.

Vita teaches Music Education at Anne E. Moncure Elementary school where he has been for over five years. According to Vita’s biography at the Band of America’s Few, prior to becoming a teacher Vita attended Virginia Commonwealth University and later served honorably in the Marine Corps for several years before retiring in 2000, only to rejoin the National Guard after the 9/11 tragedy.

Principal Greg Machi, who has worked with Vita for four years, shared that Vita has grown the choir at Moncure from 60 to 130 children and hosts a percussion program that is application-only because of the high level of interest.

“Mr. Vita takes the time to really get down on the kids’ level and ensure they understand.  He also makes sure that the music he’s teaching corresponds with the classroom- he’ll use Chinese music when classes are learning about China, for example,” said Machi.

Machi considers Vita to be a “very talented individual” whose passion for music extends beyond the classroom. Vita helps with the percussion section at Mountain View as well as working with the Marine Corps Retirees Band, for whom he has written music, as well.

Machi says that Vita also hosts a variety show each year that is a huge hit with parents and children, and also wrote and taught songs for spirit week.

Kristina Schnack Kotlus is PotomacLocal.com’s Style and Events producer and lives with her family in Woodbridge.