THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND PLAYED POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU!

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Denise Koch: HILL ALTHOUGH, AND WELCOME, EVERYONE.

I'M DENISE KOCH, NEWS ANCHOR AT WJZ-13.

I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR AND THANK MARYLAND'S 2022-2023 OUTSTANDING TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

SPEAKING OF 'THANKS' - AND OUTSTANDING, WITH ME TONIGHT IS THE CURRENT MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BRIANNA ROSS.

THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING MARYLAND'S BEST.

>> Brianna: YES, THANK YOU AND I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE.

AND I SEE THE FAMOUS BOWL IS ON THE SET WITH US.

I'M PROUD THAT MY NAME IS ON THAT TROPHY, ALONG WITH THE PAST 30 MARYLAND STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.•.

AND A NEW ONE WILL BE ADDED IN VERY SHORTLY THIS EVENING.

>> INDEED.

EVERY OCTOBER FOR BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALMOST THREE DECADES IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS ANNUAL TRADITION.

AND EVERY YEAR I'M AMAZED BY THE CREATIVITY, DEVOTION FROM THE EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS HERE IN MARYLAND.

REALLY.

OUR TEACHERS ARE AMONG THE VERY BEST IN NATION AND THEY DESERVE OUR RECOGNITION, AND OUR PRAISE AND OUR HEART-FELT THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE AT THE HEART OF EDUCATION CHANGE AND SUCCESS.

AND STANDING WITH THEM ARE THEIR LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES AND THE MARYLAND STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION.

>> Denise: AND IN THE MIDST OF THESE EXTRAORDINARY PAST FEW YEARS, MARYLAND WELCOMED A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, LESS THAN 18 MONTHS AGO.

MOHAMMED CHOUDHURY HAS A VISION OUR SUPERINTENDENT MOHAMMED CHOUDHURY HAS A VISION OF SUCCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT IN OUR STATE, AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT EXCELLENT TEACHERS ARE CREDITTICCAL IN REACHING THAT GOAL.

>> Mohammed Choudhury: HI, I'M MOHAMMED CHOUDHURY, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 24 LOCAL TEACHERS OF THE YEAR HONORED TONIGHT!

THERE ARE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS - I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED THEM - BOTH AS A STUDENT AND TEACHER.

TOGETHER, WE ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN MARYLAND, BY ENRICHING STUDENT EXPERIENCES, ACCELERATING STUDENT LEARNING AND NARROWING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT SCHOOL-BASED FACTOR IN A STUDENT'S SUCCESS IS THE TEACHER IN FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM.

OUR MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS OF THE YEAR ARE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS, WHO SET AN UNPARALLELED BENCHMARK FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, SCHOLARSHIP, AND COMMITMENT IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

THEIR WORK IS FELT EVERY DAY BY THEIR STUDENTS, STUDENTS' FAMILIES AND COLLEAGUES.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEMBERS SENT IN TESTIMONIALS DESCRIBING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR HONOREES.

HERE'S JUST A SAMPLE OF WHAT WE HEARD.

"HER TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO THE BEST POSSIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, AND TEACHERS, MAKES HER A UNIQUE AND POWERFUL PRACTITIONER."

"HE TRULY 'WALKS THE WALK' AS A SERVANT LEADER AND HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON HIS FORMER STUDENTS."

"HER VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, PASSION FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, EXEMPLARY WORK ETHIC, AND STRONG EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE HAVE INSPIRED HER COLLEAGUES IN WAYS THAT HAVE DIRECTLY TRANSLATED TO INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS."

"HE HAS HAD A HAND IN MOLDING MY SON INTO A YOUNG ADULT THAT I AM NOW CONFIDENT WILL BE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER CHOICE HE MAKES IN THE FUTURE."

"WITHOUT HER, I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM TODAY, NOW PURSUING THE BIOMEDICAL ETHICS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP AT MAYO CLINIC."

THE IMPACT OF OUR TEACHERS RESONATES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES AND TIME, TOUCHING MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.

AS CHANGE AGENTS, THESE TEACHERS ARE JOINING US AS WE BOLDLY LEAD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, AND THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL TIME FOR MARYLAND EDUCATION.

THEY WILL HELP US CARRY OUT THE BLUEPRINT'S CALL TO ELEVATE THE TEACHING PROFESSION, WHICH INCLUDES HIGHER TEACHER SALARIES, CAREER LADDERS, AND RIGOROUS TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE HIGHEST PERFORMING TEACHERS FOR MARYLAND.

TONIGHT, ON BEHALF OF THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, I EXTEND HEARTFELT THANKS AND APPRECIATION, FOR THE CRITICAL ROLES THAT ALL TEACHERS HAVE, IN SUPPORTING THE ACADEMIC AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS.

TO OUR 24 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, OUR FINALISTS, AND SOON-TO-BE NAMED MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, TO OUR STATE AND TO THE LIVES OF MARYLAND CHILDREN.

WE ARE GENERATION BLUEPRINT, AND WE ARE TRANSFORMING MARYLAND EDUCATION.

THANK YOU.

>> AND WE WISH MR. CHOUDHURY THE VERY BEST AS MARYLAND'S EDUCATION LEADER.

NOW LET'S MEET SOME OF THIS YEAR'S TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

AND AS A SIDEBAR, THE TEACHERS RECORDED THEIR OWN AUDIO.

WE WANT TO THANK MPT FOR YOUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN HELPING THEM TO LOOK AND SOUND AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE!

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Amy Rice: MEETING STUDENTS THIS YEAR WAS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

MY SEVEN YEAR OLDS HANDLED THE CHANGES THEY ENCOUNTERED WITH MATURITY AND GRACE.

THEY DIDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT WEARING MASKS OR HAVING TO KEEP THEIR DESKS APART.

INSTEAD, THEY EXHIBITED EXCITEMENT TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, SEEING THEIR TEACHERS AND FRIENDS.

THEIR POSITIVE ATTITUDES HELPED FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT REMAINED WITH US THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WE ALL APPRECIATED HOW LUCKY WE WERE TO BE THERE TOGETHER.

>> Rachel Ulmer: WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE GOOD WORK I'M DOING IN MARYLAND THESE DAYS, I'M OFTEN REMINDED OF MY PREVIOUS TEACHING GOALS AND HOW THOSE EXPERIENCES HAVE HELPED FORM ME INTO THE EDUCATOR I'VE BECOME.

THE ONLY THING I LIKE BETTER THAN TEACHING IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO BE A BETTER TEACHER, AND ON THIS FRONT, I'VE BECOME A LIFELONG STUDENT.

IT'S SOMETHING I TRY TO IMPART TO MY OWN 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS THAT LEARNING DOESN'T STOP AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> Mirta Valdes-Bradner: MY STUDENTS KNOW THAT MY CLASSROOM IS A SAFE CLASSROOM.

IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE.

MY STORY IS THEIR STORY.

I'M ALSO A SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNER, SO I KNOW THE DIFFICULTIES, THE CHALLENGES, AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT THEY NEED TO COME EVERY DAY AND LEARN IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEIR TEACHER WANTS THEM TO DO THEIR BEST.

>> Erica McAndrew: CHANGING MY EARS EACH DAY, BOUNDLESS SENSE OF PLAY.

CARING FOR MY FAMILIES, LOVING MY FAMILIES AND MY STUDENTS.

TRYING NEW STRATEGIES.

LEARNING FROM MY STUDENTS.

RIDING THE ROLLER COASTER OF FIRST GRADE AND LOVING THE TWISTS AND TURNS.

AN ADVENTURE AROUND EVERY CORNER.

>> Nadeline Fleischer-Pile: WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY APPROACH TO TEACHING, I THINK ABOUT MY THREE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN EDUCATOR.

ONE, CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO LEARN.

TWO, MEETING MY STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE, WHEREVER THEY ARE, ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

AND THREE, BEING THEIR FIERCEST ADVOCATE, TO GIVE THEM WHATEVER THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

>>HOW LUCKY SEVERSON I DID ARE THROWS CHILDREN IN THOSE CLASSROOMS.

MARYLAND'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM IS ADMIRED NATIONALLY BECAUSE OF OUR DEDICATED, GENEROUS CORPORATE SPONSORS.

THEY'VE BEEN CHEERING US ON THROUGH THESE UNUSUAL TIMES, HELPING US CONTINUE TO SHINE.

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

SO WE HAVE A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO, PRESENTING SPONSORS - AS ALWAYS, MCDONALDS FAMILY RESTAURANTS OF BALTIMORE.• AND NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION.

PLATINUM SPONSORS - MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.• NTA LIFE - A HORACE MANN COMPANY.• AND WHITING TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY.

AND GOLD SPONSORS: BANK OF AMERICA, THE MARYLAND STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, AND MY VERY OWN WJZ13.

>> AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FEDERAL YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITH THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT.

YOU'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS.

AND NOW - LET'S MEET A FEW MORE OF THIS YEAR'S TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

>> Morgan Hungerford: ONE THING THAT I FIND INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN THE CLASSROOM IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS A CHANCE TO LEARN.

WHETHER THIS MEANS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS OR EXTENDING STUDENTS BEYOND THE STANDARD, PROVIDING THEM WITH A HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE MAKES IT SO THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS A CHANCE TO FIND SUCCESS.

>> Philip Sham Albert: THE WAY THAT I TEACH AND THINK ABOUT TEACHING HAS EVOLVED.

ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS THE EXPERT IN THE ROOM.

NOW, I SEE MYSELF AS A COACH, IN A ROOM FULL OF EXPERTS IN TRAINING.

HELPING MY STUDENTS BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES THE WAY THAT I BELIEVE IN THEM.

♪ ♪ >> Amy Beeman: SCIENCE IS ALL ABOUT GETTING MESSY AND MAKING MISTAKES.

NOT ONLY ARE WE HERE TO LEARN BUT HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN DOING IT, ALSO.

I WORK REALLY HARD TO EARN MY STUDENTS' RESPECT, AND LET THEM KNOW I'M AVAILABLE TO TALK TO IN PERSON OR IN WRITING BY USING THE IV BOX, BUT MY NUMBER ONE STRATEGY IS A SECRET - I SMILE BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

>> Jordan Lim: I EMPHASIZE STUDENT CONNECTION AND WELLBEING.

WHILE THE PANDEMIC GENERATED A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, OUR VIRTUAL SPACE WAS A CONSTANT.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE WE COULD BE OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES AND TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED EVERY CHILD IN SOME CAPACITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN EFFECT IN AREAS THAT I DON'T KNOW THE FULL SCOPE OF YET.

WHAT I DO KNOW, IS THAT CREATING A SPACE FOR CONNECTION, SO THAT CHILDREN CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES, THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, AND THE WORLD WE LIVE IN WILL ALWAYS BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF MY PRACTICE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT LATELY TEACHERS HAVE BEEN LEARNING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES, OFTEN WORKING DOUBLE-DUTY IN VIRTUAL AND IN-CLASS SETTINGS.

AT THE SAME TIME.

OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO VOICE HIS APPRECIATION.

>> Lt. Gov.

Boyd Rutherford: I'M HONORED TO JOIN YOU THIS EVENING FOR THE ANNUAL MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR SPECIAL.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS BRIGHT.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAD A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING STUDENTS, I KNOW JUST HOW CHALLENGING IT CAN BE.

I ALSO KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY REWARDING IT CAN BE TO SHAPE THE YOUNG MINDS THAT WILL CHANGE OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.

IT'S YOUR DAY TO DAY EFFORTS IN THE CLASSROOM THAT INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE, DREAM BIG, AND EXCEED EVEN THEIR OWN EXPECTATIONS.

I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOUR PERSEVERANCE AND ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER TO UPLIFT YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, GOVERNOR HOGAN AND OUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU DO TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE WORLD CLASS EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES.

>> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BROUGHT CHALLENGES BUT ALSO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.• AND NOW HERE ARE A FEW MORE OF OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

♪ ♪ >> Karen Carty: WHEN THE SCHOOL WENT VIRTUAL, DURING THE PANDEMIC, I STARTED TO REALIZE HOW MUCH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TEACHING.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVE IT.

BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHETHER IT WAS ACROSS A COMPUTER SCREEN OR FACE TO FACE.

I JUST NEEDED THAT DAILY INTERACTION WITH MY STUDENTS AS MUCH AS THEY DID.

I WANTED TO HELP THEM LEARN AND GROW.

>> Johnathan Dunn: I BELIEVE MY CLASSROOM IS A LABORATORY OF SORTS, A SAFE SPACE WHERE CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUNDS ARE: ONE, CHALLENGED THROUGH THEIR EXPLORATION OF THE MATERIAL PRESENTED TO THEM.

TWO, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE RISKS IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITIES OR RESOLVE.

AND THREE, A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCE GROWTH, AS A RESULT OF IT ALL.

>> Evelyn Policarpio: I MOTIVATE MY STUDENTS BY BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.

IN MY CLASSROOM, THEY FEEL VALUED AND RECOGNIZED.

MISTAKES ARE EXPECTED, RESPECTED AND CORRECTED.

THEY CAN MAKE MISTAKES ANY TIME.

I BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM TO WORK HARDER.

>> Cassandra Hosler: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS IS A LOT OF FUN.

I LIKE TO DO SO BY ASKING THEM A VARIETY OF UNIQUE QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO LIVE ON MARS?

WOULD YOU MAKE YOUR ART ON MARS?

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

WE GET SOME VERY UNUSUAL ANSWERS.

IT BREAKS THE ICE, IT LETS US GIGGLE, AND WE GET TO KNOW SOMETHING NEW ABOUT EACH OTHER EVERYDAY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO GATHERING TEACH BECAUSE TEACHERS NEED MORE PRAISE, MORE SUPPORTMORE MONEY.

>> MORE MONEY, YES.

>> WELL, I CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT THE MONEY PART.

THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION IS ALL ABOUT PRAISING YOU FOR THE VALUABLE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE CLASSROOM, EACH AND EVERY DAY.

YOUR IMPACT, IS LIFE LONG.

AND THE STUDENTS THAT YOU TEACH TODAY MAY BE THE READERS THAT WE NEED TOMORROW TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF A WORLD IN CRISIS.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND WE ARE HERE IN GRATITUDE TO OFFER OUR SUPPORT.

SO, LET'S MEET SOME MORE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

♪ ♪ >> Melissa Kiernan: SEEING MY STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR FELT LIKE COMING HOME AFTER A LONG VACATION.

ALTHOUGH WE EXPERIENCE NEW THINGS WHILE AWAY AND APART, IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE HOME WHERE WE ARE COMFORTABLE AND CAN BE STRONGER TOGETHER.

>> Jennifer Carey: FUELED BY MY PASSION FOR TEACHING, I HAVE RETAINED THE HEART AND VISION OF A CHILD.

MY STUDENTS CAN FEEL MY ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING, IN EVERY LESSON.

THIS HELPS ME PERSONALIZE INSTRUCTION IN A DELIBERATE, FLEXIBLE MANNER TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN MASTER FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS.

ENGAGING STUDENTS IN REAL WORLD LEARNING IS EFFORTLESS WHEN VIEWED THROUGH THE HEART OF A CHILD.

>> Katherine Spies: TEACHERS ARE SUPERHEROES AS WE BUTTON OUR CAPES AND WE STRIVE TO FIND OUR INNER SUPER POWER, WHICH PROMISES OUR STUDENTS A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

MY KIDS GET A DAILY DOSE OF ENTHUSIASM AND EXCITEMENT AS WE TWIRL OUR WAY THROUGH LEARNING, TAKE RISKS WITH NEW IDEAS, AND DANCE, CHANT, AND SING OUR INVESTIGATIONS COMFORTABLY BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT.

>> Kristin Cashman: BUILDING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS SIMPLY STARTS WITH TRULY SEEING EACH STUDENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DIFFERENT STRENGTHS, NEEDS, AND DESIRES.

AND WHEN WE SEE EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THOSE DIFFERENCES.

BECAUSE TO BE SEEN IS TO BE HEARD, TO BE VALUED, TO BE COUNTED.

IT MEANS TO BE APPRECIATED AND TO BE CELEBRATED.

>> DENISE: OVER THE YEAR, I'VE LEARNED THIS PROGRAM DEPENDS ON AN INCREDIBLE PANEL OF JUDGES, REPRESENTING MANY EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY SPEND HOURS READING LENGTHY APPLICATION PACKETS AND INTERVIEWING EACH OF THE FINALISTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE MARYLAND STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION AND THE MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM.• THANK YOU, JUDGES.

SO NOW LET'S MEET SOME OF OUR FINALISTS.

♪ ♪ >> Charles Whittaker: WHAT I FEEL STANDS OUT ABOUT MY INSTRUCTION IS THAT I MEET THE STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE.

WHEN I GREET THEM AS THEY ENTER THE CLASSROOM, I'M TAKING A PULSE ON WHETHER THEY'RE READY FOR INSTRUCTION OR NOT, AND I ADJUST MY CONTENT ACCORDINGLY.

IF I FEEL THAT I NEED TO SLOW DOWN, I'LL PUT PART OF MY INSTRUCTION OFF TIL THE NEXT DAY.

BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STUDENTS.

>> Berol Dewdney: WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT MY STUDENTS CHEER ON THE CARPET EVERY DAY.

WE ARE SMART, WE ARE BRAVE, WE CAN DO ANYTHING!

I AM READY TO LEAD.

YOU ARE READY TO LEAD.

AND WE ARE READY TO LEAD.

SO LET'S G-O-G-O-G-O-G-O GO!

>> Alicia Amaral Freeman: I LISTEN TO THEM.

I CHECK IN WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS TO SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING.

I ASK ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES.

I MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY AND ROUTINE IN MY CLASSROOM DURING A TIME WHICH HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT CONSISTENT.

AND ABOVE ALL, I REMIND MYSELF EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT THESE ARE CHILDREN.

IT'S BEEN HARD ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC AS AN ADULT AND SO I JUST REMEMBER TO ALWAYS MEET THESE KIDS WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION.

>> Jonathan Kurtz: I'VE FOUND IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT STUDENTS LEARN BEST WHEN THEY'RE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY.

IN ORDER TO MOTIVE STUDENTS, I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU SHOULD HAVE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, AND THEN DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONNECT WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM TO THINGS THEY ALREADY KNOW AND THINGS THAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

>> WHAT A FABULOUS GROUP OF TEACHERS.

I KNOW HOW YOU FELT A YEAR AGO THIS TIME LAST YEAR I WAS IN HOME IN SWEAT PANTS WITH MY FAMILY WATCHING SO I KNOW THE ANXIETY THAT YOU'RE FEELING SO, LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

HERE ARE OUR AMAINING FINALISTS.

♪ ♪ >> Ashley Gereli: ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT BEING A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IS THAT I'M TRULY EVERYONE'S TEACHER.

THEREFORE, I RARELY GET TO MEET MY STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I'M GIFTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW ALONGSIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH OR WITHOUT DISABILITIES, AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I'M HONORED TO EXPERIENCE THEIR ENTIRE JOURNEY YEAR TO YEAR.

I WARMLY WELCOME THEM AS KINDERGARTENERS, CONTINUE TO LEARN BESIDE THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE JOURNEY, AND THEN CELEBRATE THEM AS THEY GRADUATE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> Elizabeth McDonald: I AM A JOYFUL SCIENCE NERD.

I TRULY ENJOY EVERY OPPORTUNITY I HAVE TO STEP INTO THE LAB WITH MY STUDENTS, AND EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE.

WHILE I AM A PLANNER, I DO APPRECIATE A GOOD SERENDIPITOUS SCIENTIFIC DETOUR, WHERE WE GET TO EXPLORE BASED UPON OUR INTERESTS, AND THAT OFTEN YIELDS THE LARGEST LEARNING OUTCOMES, AND THE MOST JOYFUL MEMORIES.

>> Rebecca Mathews: STUDENTS ARE WEIGHED DOWN BY INSECURITY.

THEY DOUBT THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY EVEN START.

MY CLASS IS A JOURNEY.

STUDENTS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT THEY GET TO A PLACE NEVER EXPECTED.

I LEARN SO MUCH FROM MY STUDENTS AS THEY DEVELOP SKILLS, LEARN CONTENT, AND MAKE THE BIG CONNECTIONS.

THE JOURNEY BECOMES DOABLE.

MOTIVATION'S NO LONGER THE QUESTION.

>> AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

WE HAVE MET THE TEACH OTHERS OF THE YEAR.

NOW IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'LL RECEIVE!

FOR ALL 24 TEACHERS - CITATIONS FROM MARYLAND'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS NATIONAL HONORS.

THEY MAY EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO TOUR THE WHITE HOUSE.

THIS YEAR THEY'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SMITH ISLAND ON A SPECIAL RETREAT SPONSORED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION.

NORTHRUP GRUMMAN ALSO ENGAGES OUR TEACHERS IN SEVERAL STEM ACTIVITIES.

AND WITH THE HELP OF McDONALDS AND OUR PARTNERS, THE TEACHERS WILL ENJOY A RETREAT IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

AND - EACH OF THE 24 DISTRICT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR WILL RECEIVE A MONETARY AWARD OF $4000 FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THAT'S IMPORTANT MONEY!

>> IMPORTANT THAT MONEY COMES IN HANDY!

I WAS SO HONORED TO MAKE REMARKS TO THE MARYLAND SENATE AS THEY RECOGNIZEDRECOGNIZED THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND I LOVED THAT DAY ON THE BAY AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL TOO.

WE ARE HONORED BY THE ORIOLES AND I DID HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEND OUT THE FIRST PITCH.

>> THIS YEAR, THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $6,000 FROM THE SPONSORS.

AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS YEAR'S STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR WILL ENJOY A WEEK IN WASHINGTON - MEETING THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY WITH THE OTHER STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR IN THE ROSE GARDEN.

AND NASA'S SPACE CAMP IS IN THE WINNER'S FUTURE AS WELL.

BRIANNA, WE KNOW YOU GOT TO DO THAT THIS PAST YEAR.• >> I DID, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BOND WITH MY COHORTS AND MEET SOME AS NATE NAUGHTS.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL AS THEY ARE WAITING TO HEAR?

>> YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE YEAR IN STORE.

I HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS TRAVELLING ACROSS BOTH THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY SHARING MY EXPERIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM, LEARNING FROM OTHER EDUCATORS ABOUT THEIR PRACTICE AND ENGAGING IN HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND CONNECT WITH EDUCATORS NOT ONLY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND MARYLAND, BUT AROUND THE WORLD!

THIS SUMMER, I TRAVELED WITH THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RE-IMAGINING MIGRATION TO BERLIN, GERMANY, FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE GEARED TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SHARE AND SUPPORT STUDENT STORIES OF MIGRATION.

THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE ALLOWED ME TO MEET SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED AND DEDICATED EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DENISE, LET ME TELL YOU, MY 2021-22, MY COHORT OF MARYLAND TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

FROM LINDSAY KRISHER OF GARRETT COUNTY WHO IS CHAMPIONING COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION TO DUSTIN THOMAS OF WICOMICO COUNTY WHO FOUNDED THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MUSIC PROGRAM RHYTHM AND ROOTS.

I MISS YOU GUYS!

THE 23 TEACHERS IN MY COHORT ARE SOME OF THE MOST PASSIONATE AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATORS THAT I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF LEARNING FROM.

I HAVE ALSO BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

TOGETHER WE HAVE TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO VISIT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE WHITE HOUSE, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE END OF AN AMAZING YEAR WITH THEM IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

AMONG ALL OF THESE THINGS, NOTHING HAS BROUGHT ME GREATER JOY THAN REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION IN MARYLAND.

THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN AS WE ALL KNOW, HAVE BEEN MET WITH UNCERTAINTY AND UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE, BUT THE TEACHERS IN MARYLAND HAVE MOVED WITH REMARKABLE GRACE AND DIGNITY AND THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE A TIRELESS COMMITMENT AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS.

SO TO THE TEACHERS IN MARYLAND, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPRESENT THE HARDWORKING TEACHERS OF OUR STATE.

IT HAS TRULY BEEN MY HONOR.

>> WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR COHORTS AS YOU CALL THEM.

ALL RIGHT, AND, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING AN AMAZING EDUCATOR AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT AND WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

AND ALL OF YOU THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

ONCE AGAIN IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY COUNTY HERE ARE FINALISTS.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY - CHARLES WHITTAKER.

BALTIMORE CITY - BEROL DEWDNEY.

BALTIMORE COUNTY - ALICIA FREEMAN.

FREDERICK COUNTY - JONATHAN KURTZ.

HARFORD COUNTY - ASHLEY GERELI.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - ELIZABETH MCDONALD.

WICOMICO COUNTY - REBECCA MATHEWS.

AND MAY I HAVE THE ENVELOPE AND I HAVE TO OPEN IT, AND I HAVE TO READ THE NAME.

DEEP BREATH AND THE WINNER OF THE YEAR: WE WILL BUILD A WORLD THAT'S WORTHY OF THE GREATNESS BY ELEVATING THEIR LEADERSHIP.

THIS HONOR BELONGS TO THEM!

TO MY STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE, I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING.

SO, TO EVERY STUDENT IN MARYLAND AND AMERICA, YOU ARE THE REVOLUTIONARY LEADERS IN OUR WORLD THAT OUR WORLD NEEDS TO EVERY TEACHER.

TO THE EDUCATIONAL WARRIORS WHO MADE IT BETTER TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY THAT IS HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO LEARN FROM AND SERVE TO EVERY SOUL WHO WORKS IN SERVICE OF STUDENTS IN MARYLAND AND AMERICA, THANK YOU!

I'M DEEPLY AND EVER HUMBLED TO WORK ALONGSIDE OF YOU AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL RISE TO THE CHALLENGES OF THIS MOMENT AND GO SLOW THE WORLD WHAT'S POSSIBLE!

WE ARE READY TO LEAD.

WE'LL DO SO WITH LOVE AND JUST LIKE MY STUDENTS SAY, WE'RE SMART, WE'RE BRAVE AND WE CAN DO ANYTHING!

>> YAY!

>> A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.

YOU EMBODY EXCELLENCE AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL HAVE A PHENOMENAL JOURNEY.

TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, OUR MANY FRIENDS AND EDUCATION COLLEAGUES AND ALL OF TO OUR VIEWERS, STAY HELD THIRD AND STAY HAPPY.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU TO MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND TO THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THEIR PARTNERS, AND ALL THE DEDICATED AND TALENTED TEACHERS IN MARYLAND.

REMEMBER, TEACHING MAKES ALL THE OTHER PROFESSIONS POSSIBLE!!

GOOD NIGHT!

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