30-year-old wins coveted Teacher of the Year award

It's that time of year again: school is winding down and students are almost out for the summer. But that also means it's time for the National Teacher of the Year award to be given to one outstanding educator.

Meet Sean McComb, an English teacher at Baltimore's Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts. At just 30 years old, he's one of the youngest ever to win the award.

In a video posted on the Teaching Channel, McComb talks about how he's able to use his difficult childhood experiences to relate to some of his students who are now going through similar situations.

'I grew up not knowing when the money was going to run out."

One of those students is Brandy, a teen mom who was kicked out of her home. She was planning to quit school, but McComb convinced her to continue her education.

'He's like a hero because without him I wouldn't be sitting here today. I really wouldn't."

"I think Brandy and I were brought together because we needed each other. Because Brandy has restored my hope in the resilience of the human spirit."

McComb was named Maryland Teacher of the Year last October.

In a press release, the State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery said McComb was chosen because he "personifies the cutting edge Maryland educator. He is an energetic instructor, making certain his students set goals, commit to those targets, succeed, and move forward toward college or career."

That means McComb was automatically in the running for the National Teacher of the Year award. But the process wasn't a walk in the park - McComb had some homework to do.

He had to fill out a written application, get letters of recommendation and write eight essays on topics such as personal teaching philosophy and issues facing education.

And in December, McComb was announced as one of the four finalists up for the big award.

The Washington Post says McComb just recently found out he won the title. He was actually holding his then-11-day-old son Silas when the call came through.

McComb will now put aside his teaching duties for a year and travel around the world as an advocate for education.