It is with great pleasure and pride that the students, faculty, and staff congratulate Mr. Jason Adams for being named Dundalk’s Chamber of Commerce 2013 Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Middle Schools. Mr. Adams commented after hearing the good news:
“After the shock wore off when Mrs. Owens [principal] told me that I won, I felt humbled. Each of the activities and initiatives that I am a part of are collaborations with many other awesome students and teachers. I feel very fortunate to be a part of so many great things. I mentioned to many people that this is as much an award for me as it is for our entire school. Great things happen at General John Stricker Middle School every day. I'm honored to be a part of such greatness and really appreciate that the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce honors us for working so hard to improve our community.”
Mr. Adams joined the General John Stricker Middle School faculty fourteen years ago after graduating from Towson University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While teaching at General John Stricker Middle Mr. Adams completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Mr. Adams has been the school’s steel band program creator and director for the past 13 years, the school’s Music Department Chair for many years, and is currently the sixth grade team leader. In these difficult times when many students do not have a positive male role model in their life to support them and guide them as they develop into young men, Mr. Adams realized a need for such an intervention in his school so he formed the Empowerment Group. Mr. Adams recruited the assistance of another male teacher to partner with him in meeting with male students during the school day (and sometimes after school) to encourage them to take their education seriously, apply themselves 100%, and understand and demonstrate self-pride in what they say and do. Mr. Adams has certainly demonstrated his commitment to and passion for teaching, as well as, promoting students self confidence and belief in themselves that they can and will succeed.
