Virginia Beach Schools 2003 Citywide Teacher of the Year Named Mark Clemente, a chemistry teacher at Ocean Lakes High School, was recently named the Citywide 2003 VBCPS Teacher of the Year. In a surprise visit to his classroom, Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney and Associate Superintendent Sheila S. Magula made the announcement and presented him with roses and other congratulatory gifts. Chosen from an initial pool of 85 teachers representing their schools, Clemente was one of eight finalists selected to receive classroom visits by the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. According to Chairperson Margaret Buxton, all the finalists were outstanding, but Clemente stood out because of his dynamic and revolutionary strategies in working with students and teachers alike to bring out their personal best. Clemente is a six-year veteran teacher and has spent all six years teaching at Ocean Lakes High School. Currently, he teaches Magnet chemistry, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry as part of the Mathematics/Science Academy curriculum at Ocean Lakes as well as Advanced Placement chemistry. He also serves as the departmental chairman for the Ocean Lakes High School Science Department. According to Jerry Deviney, principal of Ocean Lakes, "Mark Clemente is one of the strongest teachers with whom I have worked in my 37 years in education in Virginia Beach....it would be difficult to better capture the essence of this educator who is a teacher, a mentor, a friend, and a father figure to so many of our students....Mark is a superb educator and a superb human being who brings his best to this school each and every day." Clemente has served in numerous leadership roles, among them adult chairperson of the Technology Committee for the National Association of Student Councils' National Conference, adult sponsor for students selected for the Tidewater Science Fair and the Virginia Junior Academy of Science, Odyssey of the Mind coach, and Newsletter Editor for the Tidewater Alliance of Chemistry Teachers. In addition, Clemente has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Ocean Lakes High School Distinguished Teacher and inclusion in Who's Who Among American High School Teachers and Who's Who in America. Clemente also serves in numerous capacities as part of the high school community at Ocean Lakes and in the Virginia Beach community at large. He is a member of several school committees such as the Dynamic Dolphin Selection Committee, the National Honor Society Selection Committee, the Ninth Grade Transition Team Committee, and the Magnet Advisory Committee. He also is active as a Lay Eucharistic Minister in his church and has held several positions in his local civic league. Clemente was awarded a BA in Chemistry with an English minor from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1986. He earned an MSEd from Old Dominion University in 1996. For more information about the Virginia Beach Schools 2003 Teacher of the Year, please call Margaret Buxton at 757.427.4614. ###