On November 2, Dr. Mark Mash was named Leesville Road High School’s Teacher of the Year.
A Latin teacher, Mash earned this admirable award through his passion and care for teaching, and his yearning for students to learn and grow.
Mash is proud of his accomplishment and expressed his gratitude. “It is a huge honor and very humbling. Leesville has a phenomenal and dedicated corps of teachers, and I feel lucky to be here. You will not find a better group of people to work with anywhere,” said Mash.
Dr. Mash brings expert knowledge and experience to the classroom with an array of academic achievements. In 1998, Mash earned a BA in Classics (Latin and Ancient Greek) from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2000 and 2010, Mash earned an MA and PhD in Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mash also expanded his horizons by studying abroad at the American Academy in Rome and the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.
Aside from many academic successes, Mash also has years of teaching experience. Mash’s first teaching positions included being a teaching assistant for Greek Mythology (1998-1999), and a Latin instructor (1999-2002) at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since 2002, Mash has taught all Latin courses available at Leesville High School, from Latin 1 through AP Latin.
Mash combines his superior education and veteran teaching experience to impart his knowledge upon his students and ensure they receive the best education. “My goal is to help each student master the material, and, as students advance, my role increasingly becomes that of a facilitator. I want students to think critically, to be curious, to ask questions, and to become comfortable problem-solving. These practiced skills become helpful habits in students’ lives now and in the future,” said Mash.
Dr. Mash is appreciated by his students who praise his expertise. “I think that Mr. Mash is one of the best teachers at the school because he really masters the subject he teaches. I think his best trait is that he really integrates technology into the learning and that really enhances the experience,” said Ryan Welton, sophomore.
Not only does Mash want to challenge his students, he strives to challenge himself as well. “I view it as a challenge to continue to improve. Teaching is hard work, and no one ever reaches a point where the work is finished. As in education, the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. I believe the only way to make progress is to keep striving,” said Mash.
Dr. Mash is appreciated by his students who praise his expertise. “I think that Mr. Mash is one of the best teachers at the school because he really masters the subject he teaches. I think his best trait is that he really integrates technology into the learning and that really enhances the experience,” said Ryan Welton, sophomore.
Dr. Mash has a strong devotion to teaching and to his students, and that commitment and responsibility merge to make him an outstanding choice for Teacher of the Year.
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