Heather Dapsauski

Heather Dapsauski is not just a math teacher. Heather is a math teacher who is successful because she strives, on a daily basis, to make a personal connection with every one of her students. “If I make the effort to form a relationship with my students, then they want to learn.”

Heather has taught math at Governor Thomas Johnson High School (TJ) since 2003, the year she graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College (now Mount Saint Mary’s University). In the last nine years, she has taught all grade levels and subjects from pre-algebra to advanced placement calculus, managed class sizes ranging from 18 to 39 students, and also earned her master’s degree in mathematics from Hood College. She’s experienced a very diverse student population at TJ – not only in learning levels and ability, but in their heritage, culture, place of birth, and primary language spoken at home. All of these things add to the challenge of teaching, but this has only inspired Heather to find different ways help them learn.

Heather’s father taught guitar lessons part-time, and money earned from the lessons went to Heather’s college fund and helped pay her tuition. Heather had the responsibility of finding additional ways to help pay for school, and was very grateful to receive a Community Foundation scholarship. The John and Wilhelmina Stockman Teaching Scholarship, a fund created by the Stockman’s son in their memory for students graduating from TJ and studying to be a teacher, help offset the cost.

Heather has actively mentored and worked with several after-school programs. The “Students Helping Other People” Club provides a volunteer forum for students to visit nursing homes, help with arts and crafts, and serve ice cream. The club members also raised money for leukemia patients, and organized a winter clothes drive to help people in need. She is currently a co-advisor for the National Honor Society (NHS) at TJ. The NHS organized a very successful peer-to-peer tutoring program, two days a week after school. NHS members liked the program so much they requested to continue it for a second year.

At the administrative level, Heather served on the Leadership Improvement Team for four years, and currently serves on the “Connect” team to develop a program that provides a time period during the school day where students can get extra assistance from teachers, make up tests and quizzes, research projects, participate in advanced placement study sessions, or receive tutoring. Heather is also active with the Frederick County Teachers Association. “We want passionate teachers who believe in their students and are proactive about improving the student’s environment.”

It’s no wonder that Heather was a finalist in the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 2011. She’s not only teaching math, she’s teaching students that volunteering, helping in the community, and helping each other have many rewards.  Heather’s advice for students pursuing a teaching career is simple and straightforward. “Start new every day. Plan things that engage the students. Love what you do, and most of all, be compassionate.”