The County Teacher of the Year award for Sagadahoc County has been awarded to a teacher at Regional School Unit 1’s Morse High School in Bath.
Eric Varney, who teaches a variety of science classes to grades 9 to 12, was one of 16 teachers in Maine to receive the award. More than 350 teachers were nominated in February by their fellow teachers, principals and members of the community.
“It’s a great honor and definitely humbling,” Varney said. “I work with some amazing people here. To think that I was chosen by this committee among the teachers (at Morse), let alone other schools, is very humbling.”
On May 6, Education Commissioner Jim Rier, Senate President Justin Alfond, State Board Vice Chairman Peter Geiger, 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year Karen MacDonald, and Educate Maine Executive Director Tanna Clews gathered in Augusta for a recognition ceremony honoring the County Teachers of the Year.
Varney was nominated for the award by colleague Leslie Trundy, a guidance counselor at Morse.
In a press release, Trundy said, “Eric is a trusted coworker because of his attentiveness and insightful perspective. He is a strong leader and collaborator. Eric is the youngest recipient of the RSU1 Patricia Ames Distinguished Teacher Award.”
Varney graduated from Dickinson College with bachelor’s degree in environmental science before going on to earn his master’s degree in ecological teaching and learning from Lesley University.
A Morse graduate himself, Varney has been teaching at his alma mater since 2004. Prior to that he taught for one year at Catalina Island Marine Institute in California.
“I’ve always wanted to do science, and I came into teaching in a roundabout sort of way. I was working in the science field for nonprofits,” Varney said, working often at sea on research vessels.
“One of the owners of these boats also owned a non-traditional school” on Catalina Island, Varney said. “When I realized that teaching was my passion — was what I wanted to do — I transferred back here to Morse.”
RSU 1 Superintendent Patrick Manuel said, “Eric is an exemplary educator, and a highly respected colleague and leader in our school system. Eric certainly deserves this recognition.”
Currently, Varney is enrolled in an Education Leadership program at the University of Southern Maine to earn a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study.
The 2015 State Teacher of the Year will be selected from the county awardees. The selection process includes a video example of the teacher’s instructional practices to be reviewed by a panel of judges, a school visit and final interview.
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