Eighty-eight school educators have been nominated for the 2025-26 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award. These outstanding teachers, representing schools across the district, were selected for their commitment to student achievement, their ability to build welcoming and inclusive classrooms, and their dedication to going above and beyond in service of children and families.
This year’s nominees are:
Nelson X. Alvarez Morales, Woodside Elementary School
Theresa Bange, Severn Run High School
Jennifer Basinger, AACPS Virtual Academy
Demetri Bedel, Old Mill High School
Joe Bigsby, Magothy River Middle School
Kimberly Lawton Bloomfield, Severna Park Middle School
Tabatha Brooks, Chesapeake High School
Serena Brown, Glendale Elementary School
Aimee Castaing, Tyler Heights Elementary School
Erin Chester, Crofton Middle School
Laura Christopher, Ferndale Early Education Center
Emily Clark, Benfield Elementary School
Joanne Clarke, Walter S. Mills-Parole Elementary School
Jessica Coyne, Northeast High School
Heather Cummins, Old Mill Middle School South
Matthew D'Agostino, Riviera Beach Elementary School
Jenilee Denney, Mayo Elementary School
Judith Diaz, Meade High School
Bethann Michelle Dixon, Lindale Middle School
Nicole Drennan, Shady Side Elementary School
Daniel Ells, Central Middle School
Samantha Emge, Marley Glen Elementary School
Michelle Emond, Southern High School
Jamie Erickson, Lake Shore Elementary School
Kathleen Fagan, Arundel Middle School
Inma Fernandez-Pacheco, Crofton High School
Nicole Fornadel, Severna Park High School
Lindsay Fuller, Germantown Elementary School
Melissa Gardner, Edgewater Elementary School
Andie Graziano, MacArthur Middle School
Scott Gurien, Crofton Elementary School
Starlyn Hacker, Brooklyn Park Middle School
Matt Hall, Arundel High School
Brenda Heim, Mary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy
Vicki Hill, Deale Elementary School
Niki Hromanik, Marley Elementary School
Jamie Hudgins, Jacobsville Elementary School
Shawn Hurman, High Point Elementary School
Nik M. Jones, Belvedere Elementary School
Karen Jones-Lantzy, Tracey's Elementary School
Beth Joy, South Shore Elementary School
Jason C. Kahler, South River High School
Noah Kiehle, Ridgeway Elementary School
Erika Klick, Odenton Elementary School
Heather Kurdziel, West Meade Early Education Center
Erika Ladd, Brock Bridge Elementary School
Casey Lafferty, Park Elementary School
Jen Lee, Folger McKinsey Elementary School
Jenna Lerro, Annapolis Middle School
Walt Lindberg, Pershing Hill Elementary School
Kimberley Looper, Corkran Middle School
Michelle Magee, Overlook Elementary School
Stephanie Marrone, George T. Cromwell Elementary School
Hannah Martin, Old Mill Middle School North
Lacy McDaniel, Center of Applied Technology, South
Marissa Miller-Vasquez, Ruth Parker Eason School
Jessica Moran, West Annapolis Elementary School
Lindsay O'Keefe, Annapolis Elementary School
Kara O'Rourke, Four Seasons Elementary School
Robert Palmer, Center of Applied Technology, North
Heather Pickens, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School
Rachel Place, Southern Middle School
Mandi Quinn, Chesapeake Bay Middle School
Clarelisa Rivera, Glen Burnie High School
James Robison, Point Pleasant Elementary School
Sheri Rosenberg, Waugh Chapel Elementary School
Veronica Rutkauskas, Pasadena Elementary School
Somia Sharafeldin, North County High School
Amy Sheasley, Piney Orchard Elementary School
Mary Smilek, Severn Elementary School
Katelyn Smith, Manor View Elementary School
Krystle Smith, Northeast Middle School
Robin Smith, Maryland City Elementary School
Lauren Snyder, Hillsmere Elementary School
Kelly M. Spadaro, Nantucket Elementary School
Kelly Shipley Spence, Jessup Elementary School
Katherine Stanton-Pawlikowski, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie
Magdalena Stanulescu, Severn River Middle School
Sandra Thomas, Chesapeake Science Point
Brian Vandegrift, Marley Middle School
Angela L. Vogt, Wiley H. Bates Middle School
Chris Wallace, Rippling Woods Elementary School
Michelle Watts, Belle Grove Elementary School
Liz Welsh, Broadneck Elementary School
Meghan Welsh, Broadneck High School
Cassidy Wilson, Chesapeake Science Point
Alicia Winarski, Windsor Farm Elementary School
Kellsie Wolcott-Guy, Hilltop Elementary School
These nominees will be recognized by the Education Foundation of AACPS at the 40th Annual Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 24, 2026. The evening will include the announcement of the 2026 AACPS Teacher of the Year, as well as a celebration of the 2025-26 George Arlotto Leadership Award (Principal of the Year). The Teacher of the Year honoree will advance to represent Anne Arundel County in the Maryland State Teacher of the Year competition.
Jacqueline Sanderson, an English Language Development teacher at Belle Grove Elementary School, currently holds the title of 2024-25 AACPS Teacher of the Year, and was a finalist for the Maryland Teacher of the Year award. Three AACPS educators have earned the state’s top honor in the last eight years: Mary Kay Connerton of Annapolis High School (2022-23), Teresa Beilstein of South Shore Elementary School (2018-29), and Josh Carroll of South River High School (2016-17).
Questions about the Teacher of the Year program should be directed to Jenn Lombardi at jlombardi@aacps.org and Meghan O’Brien at mwobrien@aacps.org. Questions about the Excellence in Education event should be directed to Joe Callahan at jfcallahan@aacps.org.
Information about tickets to the event will be available in the coming months.