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Potomac Honors Two Recipients of the 2026 Bill Cook Award for Excellent Teaching

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Potomac Honors Two Recipients of the 2026 Bill Cook Award for Excellent Teaching
Bill Cook Excellent Teaching Award 2026
The Potomac School honored with the 2026 Bill Cook Award for Excellent Teaching during the school’s Opening Assembly on September 11. Named in honor of beloved teacher and Assistant Head of School Bill Cook, who passed away in 2016, the award is presented annually to teachers “who exemplify the commitment to excellence and love of learning that define a Potomac School education.”
 
With 20 years of teaching experience, including at the college level, Petro is now in her 13th year at Potomac, teaching Upper School chemistry, organic chemistry, and honors SERC. During Head of School John Kowalik’s remarks, he emphasized how Petro is “deeply knowledgeable and thoroughly prepared, and at the same time, relaxed, flexible, and completely present in the moment,” blending her rigorous course load with an attentive, supportive approach.
 
Kowalik went on to share that Petro “brings tremendous expertise to her classrooms, but what makes her truly effective is how she combines high expectations with a genuine care for her students. She creates an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, taking intellectual risks, and even making mistakes. They know she will challenge them, but they also know she will be there to help them when they need it.” Teaching some of Potomac’s most advanced class offerings, she encourages her students to problem-solve, innovate, and approach challenge with confidence and curiosity.
 
Wolfe, the second award recipient, “brings wondrous creativity and joy to his classroom,” Kowalik shared in his remarks at the Opening Assembly. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Wolfe’s appreciation for science, the arts, and the natural world merge easily in his Middle School science classroom, and Wolfe never fails to “put his beliefs in practice and find ways to turn learning into an experience his students will remember,” Kowalik notes.  
 
Now in his eighth year at Potomac, Wolfe’s enthusiasm, creativity, and compassion stretch well beyond his own classroom. While it’s undeniable that Wolfe has a gift for connecting with students, Kowalik also reflects on his generosity and heart as a peer and colleague. “He is the person who jumps in to help – covering a class, or mentoring a fellow teacher,” making his impact community-wide.
 
Congratulations to both our recipients!
Bill Cook Excellent Teaching Award 2026

 

 

 

 

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