Eighty-nine educators have been nominated for the 2027 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award, the school district announced today. These outstanding teachers, representing schools across the county at all levels, were selected by those at their schools 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:
Tanya Atwell, Davidsonville Elementary School
Tabitha Bathras, Cape St. Claire Elementary School
Alexis Bedingfield, Crofton Middle School
Allison Beever, Woodside Elementary School
Shannon Bieler, North Glen Elementary School
Brooke Binder, Tyler Heights Elementary School
Toby J. Blanchard, Arundel Middle School
Kasey Bowling, Southern Middle School
Nanci J. Brillant, Northeast Middle School
Kristen Carannante, Glen Burnie High School
Colleen Carrabus, Eastport Elementary School
Jacqueline Chen, Southgate Elementary School
Renee Cornelius, Edgewater Elementary School
Natalie Cronin, Shipley's Choice Elementary School
Lisa Ordoyne Custer, Point Pleasant Elementary School
Ashley Cuzzart, Crofton Elementary School
Elyse Donnelly, Manor View Elementary School
Claire Dunham, South Shore Elementary School
Sara Dunn, Ridgeway Elementary School
Nicole Fielder, Benfield Elementary School
Cayla Fickinger, Jones Elementary School
Jennifer Foard, Odenton Elementary School
Ashley Gressel, George T. Cromwell Elementary School
Abbey Groft, Fort Smallwood Elementary School
Nancy Guernsey, Two Rivers Elementary School
Ted Hall, Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Krista A. Hankins, South River High School
Shannon Hanratty, Broadneck High School
Wendy Hargrove, Mayo Elementary School
Jennifer Heller, Lothian Elementary School
Corinne Herrera, Pershing Hill Elementary School
Samantha Hicks, Meade Middle School
Jessica Howell, Annapolis Elementary School
Cynthia Hoyle, West Meade Early Education Center
Molly Hudson, Folger McKinsey Elementary School
Dennis Isomba, North County High School
Stephaen Jackson-Hood, Wiley H. Bates Middle School
James Jagodzinski, Brooklyn Park Middle School
Megan Jarboe, Deale Elementary School
Rebecca Joop, Meade Heights Elementary School
Courtney Jorgensen, Germantown Elementary School
Caitlin Keegun, Crofton High School
Sarah Kellett, Jessup Elementary School
Shannon Kelly, Northeast High School
Christopher Kick, Central Middle School
Robin Kick, Arundel High School
Alyssa Klaiss, Piney Orchard Elementary School
Jennifer Kobrin, Bodkin Elementary School
Russell C. Leone, Severna Park Elementary School
Mickey Lund, Old Mill Middle School South
Cymonne Marsh-Green, High Point Elementary School
Justin Marvel, Old Mill Middle School North
Hanna McGuire, Glendale Elementary School
Robert Miller, Chesapeake Bay Middle School
Angela Mitchell, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie
Catherine Mitchell, Riviera Beach Elementary School
Jennifer Mitchell, Shady Side Elementary School
Katherine Moynagh, Severn Elementary School
Hillary Murphy, Magothy River Middle School
Kathy Murphy, Ferndale Early Education Center
Jaday Myers, Corkran Middle School
Molly Owens, Tracey’s Elementary School
Rachel Peterson, Park Elementary School
Jennifer Raymond, Brock Bridge Elementary School
Kyndia Riley, Maryland City Elementary School
Sarah Roof, AACPS Virtual Academy
Eric Russo, Southern High School
Meghan Sabat, Belvedere Elementary School
Corinne Sanders, Nantucket Elementary School
Jannel Schettini Luoma, Chesapeake High School
Lauren Schlossberg, Central Elementary School
Tracey L. Sellers, Meade High School
Susan Shim, Rippling Woods Elementary School
Mercedes Smith, Center of Applied Technology South
Shelane Smith, Pasadena Elementary School
John Sniegoski, Lindale Middle School
Kelly Sokol, Windsor Farm Elementary School
Natalie Southard, Hilltop Elementary School
Alexandra Stewart, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School
Andrew Taylor, Oak Hill Elementary School
Alicemarie Torres, Annapolis Middle School
Hope Turner, Center of Applied Technology North
Andrea Vanderwagen, MacArthur Middle School
Angela Wakshul, Broadneck Elementary School
Drew Welkie, Annapolis High School
Kristin Wier, Severn River Middle School
Emily J. Williams, Old Mill High School
Alivia Wirth, Waugh Chapel Elementary School
Jennifer Yellin, Walter S. Mills-Parole Elementary School
The nominees will be recognized by the Education Foundation of AACPS at the 41st Annual Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 23, 2027. The evening will include the announcement of the 2027 AACPS Teacher of the Year as well as a celebration of the 2027 George Arlotto Leadership Award as AACPS’ 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.
Joe Bigsby, STEM teacher at Broadneck High School, currently holds the title of 2026 AACPS Teacher of the Year. Three of the last 10 Maryland Teachers of the Year – Mary Kay Connerton of Annapolis High School (2022-23), Teresa Beilstein of South Shore Elementary School (2018-19), and Josh Carroll of South River High School (2016-17) – have been from AACPS.
Questions about the Teacher of the Year program should be directed to Maneka Monk (mmonk@aacps.org) or 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.