Author: Todd Kenreich

Friday, June 7, 2024 – The winner of the Maryland Geographic Alliance’s James B. Binko Outstanding Geography Educator-of-the-Year Award is Kevin Barry of Charles County Public Schools. He is a social studies teacher and department chair at La Plata High School.

This prestigious award recognizes teachers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of geography education in Maryland and inspired students to engage with geography in meaningful ways. Mr. Barry’s innovative teaching methods and dedication to his students have made him a standout choice for this honor.

At La Plata High School, Mr. Barry has been a passionate advocate for geography education since he began teaching Advanced Placement Human Geography. His approach goes beyond preparing students for AP exams; he aims to transform their understanding of the world and inspire them to use geographic knowledge to make a difference. Since 2019, Mr. Barry has mentored students as they do geographic research projects for the annual “Mapping Maryland” ArcGIS Student Map Competition. Of all Maryland high schools, La Plata High School has been the leading producer of student winners for this competition. One of Mr. Barry’s students researched, “Lead Exposure in Baltimore,” and she won national accolades for her research. In addition, another student landed a summer internship as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology intern with the local county government.​​ Take together, this is compelling evidence of Mr. Barry’s excellence in geography education. 

Mr. Barry’s commitment to integrating GIS technology into his curriculum has been instrumental in enhancing geographic learning. His collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency to create a Zombie Outbreak/Natural Disaster and Emergency Management Simulation showcases his innovative approach to teaching. This project not only teaches students practical GIS skills but also demonstrates the real-world applications of geography in emergency situations.

This award is named for Dr. James B. Binko, a lifelong advocate for geography education. Spanning more than 50 years, his career included work as a Maryland public schoolteacher, an education professor and dean of the College of Education at Towson University, and an educational consultant for the National Geographic Society.

The winner of the Maryland Geographic Alliance’s James B. Binko Outstanding Geography Educator-of-the-Year Award is Dustin Rhodes of Harford County Public Schools.

Currently, Mr. Rhodes teaches sixth-grade contemporary world geography at Magnolia Middle School. His innovative teaching has been highlighted on Baltimore’s WBAL news as well as in a National Education Association publication, serving as a public record of his commitment to geographic literacy and global understanding. Prior to his career in teaching, Mr. Rhodes served in the U.S. Air Force.

In a letter of support, Supervisor of Social Studies for Harford County Public Schools, Erin Lange, stated that “Time and again, Dustin has shown himself to be a risk-taker instructionally in order to meet the needs of the students in his care and to grow their capacity for geographic thinking. From his work tackling the geopolitical crisis in Ukraine to a Model United Nations project-based learning unit, Mr. Rhodes is constantly pushing his own pedagogy in order to inspire and challenge his students.”

One example of Mr. Rhodes’ outstanding work with geography has been his students’ use of interactive maps to explore the physical and human geography of Ukraine in relation to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Ms. Lange sums up Mr. Rhodes’s influence by noting that “his classroom is a place where students feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to think critically about geographic themes.” For more about Mr. Rhodes’ teaching about the war in Ukraine, see  https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/teaching-about-war-ukraine.

This award is named for Dr. James B. Binko, a lifelong advocate for geography education. Spanning more than 50 years, his remarkable career included work as a Maryland public schoolteacher, an education professor and dean of the College of Education at Towson University, and an educational consultant for the National Geographic Society.