Recognizing excellence: Havre de Grace teacher receives educator award

For 30 years, the Milken Educator Awards have been presented to educators all over the country to recognize the hard work and dedication of stand-out teachers. In November of 2016, Harford County’s very own Thomas Dennison, a fifth grade teacher at Havre de Grace Elementary, was a recipient of this award.

At a school wide assembly, expecting to only hear from the State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Karen Salmon, Dennison was presented with the award. It is Dennison’s understanding that Ronald Wooden, principal of Havre de Grace, “is responsible for the nomination.  I knew nothing about it, nor did really anyone in my school.  The process is apparently quite rigorous and secretive.” The award included $25,000 that Dennison can use for anything, and it was a complete surprise to all. The assembly involved some words from special guests and was complete with a performance by the Steel Drum Ensemble.

Wooden recall the assembly was one, “that will always be remembered,” and Dennison was, “Overwhelmed and honestly very confused.  It is beyond anything a teacher ever expects.”

Dennison plans on donating some of his money to his church, also he will be taking his wife on a trip, “and after taxes there won’t be much left after that.” For him as a teacher, winning this award means that he, “will get to share his message of hope across that United States with regards to education. He will be provided with the opportunity to share his skills sets in the classroom with many,” according to Wooden.

The fifth grade teacher has been teaching for fourteen years, and plans to teach for sixteen more. He has taught third, fourth, and fifth grade and has taught at Havre de Grace ever since graduating from Ohio University.

It’s no secret that a teacher in the running for this award has a passion for their profession. Dennison says he enjoys the chance to make things better each day. He, “enjoys the new worlds and ideas that learning provides.  I enjoy being part of the solution to the struggles of this world.  I enjoy creating citizen instead of consumers.  I enjoy that I don’t have to grow up and most of all I enjoy getting to be myself and doing everything I can to help students see that the best version of them lies in them being who they are uniquely made to be.  The more we become like each other the more we lose what makes each of us great.”