Photo Credit: UMD Office of Undergraduate Studies

By Lexxington Taylor

Features Editor

What comes to mind when you hear the word “teacher”? Do you think about someone who leaves you to fend for yourself against a bunch of content? Or do you think about someone who assigns crazy amounts of homework for no reason? 

One former Hammond student, Avery Moe thought about friendship and appreciation, specifically from that of one of her teachers. This teacher was Mrs. Dickie. Avery was one of the 2024 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars, a program from the University of Maryland. As part of the program, Avery got to invite one of her teachers from her K-12 years whom she thought had the most profound impact on her. Mrs. Dickie was Avery’s choice. 

Mrs. Dickie talked about what happened during the event. After a workshop with other professors and a luncheon at President Darryll Pines’ house, she says, “There was a dean that spoke about each recipient of the award, and then each student spoke about their mentor, and so Avery gave a little speech about me, and I had tears.” 

In said speech, Avery said  “Mrs. Dickie created a supportive, safe space where I grow both academically and personally. She was an amazing teacher who cheered me on in the classroom and in my extracurricular activities, making sure I always felt seen and appreciated.” 

When asked what about her method of teaching she thought made Avery want to nominate her for the award, Mrs. Dickie said “I think it’s because I really care about the success of my students,” she said, “and I like to get to know them individually, and about what they personally are passionate about, and stuff about their personal lives, not just stuff about them academically.” She then honed in more on her relationship with Avery: “In addition to teaching Avery for three years, like, I kept up with her since she went to college and check in with her and stuff like that., and I think she appreciates that.” 

Through these interactions, Mrs. Dickie learned a great deal about Avery. “She was very motivated, and she was artistic, and also STEM oriented; she was really good at Calculus. She also was really compassionate and kind of recognized that a lot of her peers were struggling with junior year, all the AP classes and all the expectations they put on themselves.” In fact, Avery, with the help of Mrs. Dickie, started the tradition of Good News Friday that still runs today, because “she recognized that everyone needs to kind of, like big picture, zoom out, look for the little things that make your days great, even when sometimes everything seems really heavy.”

When asked if she ever had this much recognition for her teaching before, Mrs. Dickie said that she often got nominated but she had to apply to be accepted, and she simply didn’t choose to apply. “My student’s success is what’s really heartwarming to me, so I don’t seek those other things,” she said. 

Now, there is a plaque in her room from the award ceremony; one reward for decades of teaching, but it symbolizes the unbreakable bond between student and teacher, and how it’s a recipe for success.