Congratulations to Mark Lastova for being nominated for the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) Teacher of the Year Award!

Eleven teachers from various high schools in Frederick County were nominated for the high school award.  Additionally, FCPS middle and elementary school teachers received recognition.  Mrs. Brittney Garst, now at Crestwood Middle, was nominated.

The winner from Frederick County will be nominated for the Maryland Teacher of the Year Award.  Last year, Mrs. Amanda Portner, a literacy specialist at Thurmont Middle School, was one of seven finalists for the Maryland award.

In order to be nominated for the FCPS Teacher of the Year award, teachers (including research and media specialists) must be a full-time teacher, have a minimum of five years of teaching experience, be a leader in their school and community, have an interest in issues and trends, and have advanced training and education.

“I don’t expect to gain anything; I just enjoy teaching and hope to continue challenging my students,” said Lastova.

Lastova is the department chair for LHS Career and Technology Education.  He teaches many classes including Architectural Engineering Design levels 1-3, Introduction to Engineering Design, Civil Engineering and Architecture, and Engineering Design and Development.

Lastova is one of two qualified to teach Project Lead the Way classes.  Patrick Greene teaches Digital Electronics.

Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “empower students to thrive in an evolving world.” 

All of the courses offered provides hands-on experiences in computer sciences, engineering, and biomedical sciences.  Students develop problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, and communication skills.  Linganore has been recognized by the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering as one of the top 25 “Source” schools that send students to study engineering at UMD.  

“He teaches some complicated subjects, but he makes everything easy to understand. He also has a good sense of humor and builds good relationships with his students. I always enjoy his classes,” said senior Corinne DeFrancisci.

Outside of school, Lastova enjoys coaching Travel Club soccer. As he coaches he is able to practice his hobby of sports photography while traveling with his family.

During the final selection, the panel will review all nominees’ short essays and conduct an interview with each nominee at the end of April. The panel will then award one teacher with the FCPS Teacher of the Year Award, and that person will be eligible for the Maryland Teacher of the Year Award.

“Mr. Lastova teaches in a way that encourages creativity that really isn’t available in other classes. In math and science, there is usually a set process on how to do a lab or an equation, but Mr. Lastova uses his position in the PLTW classes to stimulate as much creativity as possible from his students,” said senior Kylan Connolly.

If chosen, this will not be the first time a Linganore High School teacher was awarded a Teach of the Year Award.  In 2007, Environmental Science teacher Mark Sunkel won the Frederick County Teacher of the Year Award. In 2003, National and Global Issues teacher Darren Hornbeck won the Maryland Teacher of the Year Award.