NOTTINGHAM, MD—Regina Fugate, an educator at The Maryland School for the Blind, has been named the Principals of Schools for the Blind (POSB) 2021 Outstanding Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired.

Annually POSB, which is part of the Council of Schools for the Blind (COSB), recognizes the contributions of remarkable individuals nationally who work with students who are blind or visually impaired. Professionals in the field are nominated by their peers and the winners are chosen by principals from across the country.

Fugate, a certified teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), is a 2002 graduate of Berea College in Kentucky and received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University in 2007. She has been teaching technology and engineering at MSB since 2015, and is also the school’s lead FIRST LEGO League Robotics team coach.

The Nottingham resident has received multiple STEM education awards including the 2019 Experiencing Programming in Quorum (EPIQ) award and the 2019 Northeastern Maryland Technology Council’s (NMTC) Visionary Award. She was just selected as a 2021-22 Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow.

According to Mr. W. Robert Hair, MSB Superintendent, “We are very proud of Ms. Fugate and congratulate her on this well-deserved award. She is a dedicated teacher who goes above and beyond for her students and is a strong advocate for all people with disabilities. We are fortunate to have her as part of our team.”

Fugate received her award at a virtual ceremony hosted by the COSB Institute on October 5, 2021.