TOWSON, MD—Amy DeNike, a Grade 3 teacher at Kingsville Elementary School, has been voted 2019 best public school teacher at the elementary-middle level by the readers of Baltimore Style magazine.

Of DeNike’s award, Kingsville Elementary Principal Carol Ferris said, “It is a well-deserved recognition for an outstanding teacher who provides high-quality instruction for her students every day and always goes above and beyond.”

DeNike, a Dulaney High School graduate, has been teaching at Kingsville Elementary for 35 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in reading education, both from Towson University.

She became a National Board-Certified teacher in November 2007 in Literacy: Reading – Language Arts/ Early and Middle Childhood.

Her previous honors include Who’s Who Among American Teachers (1996, 2000, and 2004-5); Essex – Middle River – White Marsh Outstanding Educator Award (2005); Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Northeast Area Elementary Teacher of the Year (2009); and Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education – Outstanding Educator Award finalist (2018).

Beyond the classroom, DeNike has contributed to the success of the school’s Safe Racer and Odyssey of the Mind teams. In 2016, Kingsville’s Safe Racer Team, coached by DeNike, became the Northeast Area Champions and BCPS Safe Racer Champions. DeNike was a longtime coach of Odyssey of the Mind teams at Kingsville, and, under her leadership, Kingsville’s team won the World Finals in 1999.

“I love teaching, and it definitely is my life’s passion,” said DeNike. “I feel lucky to be spending my career doing what I love at an awesome school!”