SECME, Inc. (formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) has selected Dawn DeWitt from Palm Springs Community Middle School in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Richard McCombs from Statesboro High School in Statesboro, GA as the 2013 SECME National Co-Teachers of the Year.
McCombs and DeWitt will be recognized June 22, at an “Evening of Elegance” celebration sponsored by ExxonMobil to be held during the 37th Annual SECME Summer Institute, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, June 16-23.
McCombs was surprised with the announcement Wednesday afternoon during the school’s weekly faculty meeting by SECME representatives from the Georgia Institute of Technology via Internet, Bulloch County Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson, SHS Principal Marty Waters and members of the SHS staff. “I thought this was an announcement about Georgia Southern becoming the 44th SECME member
university in the nation,” McCombs said. “I couldn’t do this without all of you,” McCombs expressed to his faculty peers.
According to a statement released by SECME (formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering), the two outstanding educators were selected from a pool of nominees based on submission of extensive portfolios that were adjudicated by a panel of educator and community leaders. SECME also stated that the co-winners “demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in building and/or sustaining a successful SECME school program through creative and enriching curricular/extracurricular activities, thereby increasing the number of historically under-represented students who are interested in, and academically prepared for, studies in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).”
ABOUT RICHARD MCCOMBS
If there were game stats for academics, McCombs would be one of science’s most winning coaches. His success is an ability to help students apply science to reality. He was a finalist for SECME National Teacher of the Year in 2006, and he is a four-time school-level teacher of the year, receiving the coveted accolade at all three schools he’s served: Pahokee Middle Senior and Lake Worth High Schools in Florida and twice at SHS. Last year he was also selected as Bulloch County Schools’ 2013 District Teacher of the Year and as the school system’s and region’s STAR teacher. “Having Rich in our school system is a jewel,” said Wilson. “He makes science relevant to all students, and the timing of this award fits with what we are trying to accomplish in our school system with STEM education.”
McCombs has coached two SECME student bottle rocket teams to national championship titles in the last three years, and with another recent state win, the team will once again have the opportunity to defend that title. He’s led the school’s Vex Robotics and Mousetrap Car Teams to top-five national championship finishes in 2012 as well. For five years in a row SHS’s SECME teams have advanced to nationals by sweeping all four high school categories at the state SECME competitions. He’s also helped coach two Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) teams to top state finishes and appearances at the World OotM competitions.
“'What’s in it for me?' is what most people ask in this age, but Rich wants to know how it can benefit students,” said SHS Principal Marty Waters. “To him extra-curricular competitions provide the practical application of classroom instruction as well as the soft skills that are needed for college and career readiness such as critical thinking skills, resourcefulness, teamwork, and time management.”
Outside the classroom, McCombs coaches and travels with a total of six different extra-curricular clubs and activities including Chess Club, Science Quiz Bowl, Science Fair, Science Olympiad, SECME and Odyssey of the Mind. He has led the students involved in these organizations to numerous regional, state and national honors. “He epitomizes the servant's heart mentality and is an example of the inspirational teachers with whom we are fortunate to work,” Waters said.
Since 1981, SECME has recognized outstanding K-12 educators who have demonstrated leadership ability in advancing student development and outcomes in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. SECME was founded in 1975 by the Engineering Deans from six Southeastern universities: Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Tuskegee. Today SECME is a non-profit alliance that extends to 40 school systems, 37 major engineering universities, and industries and agencies in 15 states, the District of Columbia, and Grand Bahamas. SECME's mission is to increase the pool of historically under-represented and under-served students who will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), thus creating a diverse and globally competitive workforce. SECME provides teacher professional development and coordinates student competitions across the country. Its National Headquarters is housed on the campus of The
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
http://secme.secme.org/Default.aspx?id=42
