Sean McComb
Superman Hall of Heroes inductee Sean McComb is one of the youngest National Teachers of the Year ever. He earned this honor at the age of 30. His dedication to both his students and his profession is what truly defines a great teacher and he regularly goes above and beyond to make sure his students realize their full potential.
Sean McComb is a teacher who is truly committed to his students. He has spent his entire eight-year teaching career at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts in Baltimore, MD. In 2007, McComb developed a mentor-based college-preparatory program at Patapsco called AVID, Advancement via Individual Determination. Since then, the school’s program has assisted students who are academically in the middle and in need, by equipping them with the habits and academic supports they need to take rigorous high school courses in preparation for college. In the AVID program’s last two graduating classes at the school, 98 percent of students were admitted to four-year colleges. This program, paired with a dedicated faculty and administration, has helped Patapsco receive recognition as a top high school from The Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report for the first time in its 50-year history.
McComb was able to look within when finding his inspiration to be a great teacher. He grew up with a lot of struggles in his home life. Both of his parents went through periods of unemployment and his mother was an alcoholic. He credits two high school teachers for helping him put his life on the correct path, noting their compassion for what was going on in his life, but, at the same time, knowing he needed to hold himself to high standards in order to make something of himself.
McComb’s commitment goes beyond the classroom. He has chaperoned students to, and hosted students from, China, given up his spring break to take students on college bus tours, along with coaching indoor track and tennis. He also serves as the school’s Staff Development Teacher, and has been a curriculum writer for the school system and an adjunct instructor in Education and Writing at Towson University. In addition, McComb actively serves his community and works to instill a sense of service with his students. He and his students have been involved in services projects such as planting trees in the community, cleaning up a local creek, serving meals to the homeless and delivering donations for neighbors in need at a local church.
McComb holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Education in English Education from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Certificate in School Improvement Leadership from Goucher College.
