Mark Arcusa

High School Teacher of Year MD District 1

Mr. Mark Arcusa - bio for VFW Teacher of the Year award - 2023-2024

Mr. Mark Arcusa is entering his 25th year as a certified art teacher at Bowie High School in

Prince George's County, Maryland. He majored in fine arts at Bowie State University and enteredhis teaching profession at just the right time, serving as an apprentice to the father of the PGCPS computer graphics program, Jim Lipiano.

 He has been teaching his students and preparing them for the world of graphic design since 1999, then took over a rudimentary television production program in 2006. Since then, his students have won countless awards in the Prince George's County media festival and was awarded the festival's most winningest teacher award in 2021. Although he is proud of the awards, his favorite accomplishment is the scores of students he has helped to prepare professionally in graphic design positions and roles in the film industry, both in cinema and everyday video production and design houses.

Some of his community involvement:

Mark has been a community leader extending outside the school in many ways, including:

•   recruiting students in his media classes to serve as assistants at the NATAS endorsed DC Emmy Awards

·         recruiting students to earn professional experiences is videography for real-world clients

·         collaborating with the It's of Bowie Local access television station to create content that informs the community about the happenings at Bowie HS

·         participating in Cub Scout efforts over the years with his son on several projects and occasions

·         assisting coaches in Prince George's County's "First Tee" program

·         served as a Basketball coach for youth in the Bowie Boys & Girls club

Some explanation about Mr. Arcusa's Innovative teaching through Art:

·         after training and receiving guidance from professional TriCaster users, Mr. Arcusa evolved from his analog production of his daily "Bulldog Bulletin" morning show to a live-streaming

YouTube show.

Prince George's County Citizenship Award:

Prince George's County Media Festival - festival's most winningest teacher award in 2021, for his instructing his students winning awards!