HCPSS Teacher Honored For Dedication To HS Automotive Education, Wins Electric Vehicle

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The automotive academy instructor for the Howard County Public School System recently was honored as a Champion for Automotive Education and received an electric vehicle to use for the next two years.

Thomas Dearstine and eight other local automotive educators were honored at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show in January for their dedication and contributions to high school automotive education. Champions for Automotive Education is a partnership between DARCARS and The Automobile Dealer Education Institute.

Dearstine’s automotive teaching career includes 9.5 years with Montgomery County Public Schools and more than 16 years with HCPSS.

“Mr. Dearstine is an exceptional teacher … He loves teaching [students] the industry standards of automotive repair, from electrical engine diagnostics, alignments, brakes, welding, and general automotive maintenance. He cares deeply for his students’ educational, emotional, and social well-being. He goes above and beyond to support students and staff," said Applications and Research Lab Principal Karl Schindler.

Dearstine also serves as a mentor for new teachers and collaborates with other teachers at ARL. He is involved in the Howard County 4-H Club and can be found every summer at the Howard County Fairgrounds showing his sheep and animals. Dearstine also mentors ARL internship students from the Agriculture Academy at his farm.

As this year’s honoree, Dearstine was presented with a two-year lease for a Toyota BZ4X, Toyota’s electric vehicle. Per DARCARS, the cars were leased “to provide these educators with firsthand experience of pure electric vehicles, empowering them to proficiently educate their students on maintaining and repairing electric vehicles.”

Dearstine will introduce his students to the technology and information required to maintain and repair electric cars. He also will provide expert advice and recommendations to Toyota.