Rick Miller

Rick Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in science education from the University of Maryland. He began his teaching career in 1973 through 1983 at North Bethesda Junior High. He then went on to teach high school for ten years at Springbrook High School and finished his career with Montgomery County Public Schools at Sherwood High School. After “retiring” from Sherwood, he joined the faculty of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in 2001, teaching Biology and AP/IB Biology. He served as head of the Science Department from 2003 through 2012. In 2011, he was honored with the Theodore James Ryken Award, GC’s highest recognition for faculty or staff. In the presentation, his Science Department colleague, Nicole Haight noted, “[Rick] has answered his call from God to instruct, guide, and inspire teenagers for the past 40 years. He goes out of his way to help those who are struggling. He is responsible for the conception of the Science Student of the Month, an active leader of the St. Mary’s Scholar program, and [developed] the physics-first program at GC. He is a wonderful mentor to new and veteran teachers.”

A passionate advocate for all things science, Rick originally proposed the idea of creating a STEM program to former GC president, Art Raimo, in 2010. There were funding challenges, and it wasn’t until our current president, Dr. Paul Barker, arrived that the school was able to find a way to implement the program. Using the Project Lead the Way curriculum, Good Counsel launched a STEM program in August 2012 with a cohort of 18 freshmen and sophomore students. Currently, there are 76 students enrolled in the STEM program, and a growing list of applicants to the program demonstrates their interest in these fields of study.

Scholarship:

The Rick Miller STEM Scholarship honors Rick’s dedication to teaching and his passion for educating students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The scholarship supports under-represented minority or female students accepted into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program with demonstrated financial need. The purpose of this fund is to provide annual, renewable scholarships for incoming students who show a passion and aptitude for continuing study in a STEM-related field.