Marilyn McComber, an Emporia High School science teacher, this morning became the second member of her family to be designated Master Teacher for the Emporia school district.
McComber received the honor during a weekly staff meeting in the EHS library.
Her sister, Carolyn Koch, had slipped into the library early and tucked herself behind a pillar surrounded by other teachers to wait for McComber to arrive. Koch, who is literacy projects coordinator for the district, was an English teacher when she received the award and went on to become Kansas Master Teacher in 1989.
“This is even bigger than being nationally board certified,” McComber said between tears and congratulatory hugs after the announcement. “I’m a little emotional right now.”
The sisters teased each other as EHS staff moved out of the library and on to their classrooms.
“She’s older,” McComber said about Koch.
“Yeah, I’m older and wiser,” Koch responded. “And I taught English.”
Koch chided her about an out-of-state conference, where McComber received Radio Shack’s national award for science teachers.
“I went to that and I’ve never seen so many geeks and nerds in my life,” Koch said, naming astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who also attended the conference, as the worst of the group.
McComber, who’d later met several other astronauts, disagreed.
“They’re all like that,” she said.
Koch knew since last month that McComber was chosen as Master Teacher and had kept the secret until today.
McComber has taught earth science, biology and chemistry at EHS since 1993, according to Nancy Horst, community relations director for the district. McComber also serves as National Honor Society sponsor.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University and a master’s degree from the University of Houston.
In 2005, she became the second teacher to receive national certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She also has received a Hopkins Star Performer Award for excellence in teaching.
She has taught courses for Butler County Community College and Emporia State University and has participated in numerous workshops and professional development activities at the state and national level. She also has been a teacher and facilitator for the Woodrow Wilson Summer Workshop at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J.
Before joining the EHS faculty, she taught middle and high school science and English as a Second Language in Houston and middle school science in Salina. From 1974 to 1977, she served in the Peace Corps in Belize, where she trained elementary teachers in science.
McComber said the role of teachers is to guide students to opportunities and equip them with the tools needed to be successful.
“Providing hands-on experiments and using critical thinking questions help to prepare students,” she said in a statement about her philosophy of teaching. “Important social skills necessary in employment are learned through these experiences.”
McComber said that she has revised her teaching style during the past five years because she has “found that students are not coming to school ready to learn ...
“Too many high school students come into classrooms ready to put in their time but not their effort,” she said. “Most do not set goals.”
She now includes helping students develop a vision for the future as part of her teaching plan.
“Secondary students must have their ‘can do’ spirit rekindled, because many teenagers lack this in their academic pursuits,” McComber said. “I now spend more time stretching, nurturing, pushing, encouraging and instilling self-confidence in students. This includes letting the students see that it is all right to fail, and that never trying is actually failing.”