Washington County Public Schools’ announces five finalists for Teacher of the Year

Lisa R. Parker

The five finalists for Washington County General public Schools’ 2022-23 Trainer of the Yr just lately were stunned by visits from Superintendent Boyd Michael and school staff users.

A person trainer will be decided on to do well Caroline Schlegel, a Spanish teacher at Smithsburg Superior School and Washington County Community Schools’ 2021-22 Trainer of the 12 months.

The group of finalists represents 95 whole decades of teaching encounter, with 73 of individuals several years becoming served as educators with WCPS, a news launch states.

The 2022-23 Trainer of the Year will be declared on April 20, at an function hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce at Fountainhead Region Club. The Instructor of the Calendar year system is a partnership by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Basis.

Finalists for the 2022-23 Teacher of the Calendar year include:

Elizabeth Baumgardner

Elizabeth Baumgardner

Elizabeth Baumgardner, gifted and proficient schooling instructor at Eastern Elementary University.

Baumgardner has been a teacher with WCPS for 15 years and is a previous Trainer of the Calendar year nominee.

She integrates laptop science instruction and social psychological understanding in her lessons, a WCPS news launch states. Baumgardner co-teaches meaningful watershed academic experiences to assist plant trees all over educational facilities. This year, they are integrating techniques that character can assist boost psychological well being.

“I sense that my position is to train learners how to think critically,” Baumgardner stated in her nomination paperwork. “… Memorization and recitation will not enable my learners when they enter the earth and have to address challenges on their possess. I want my students to be ready to assume critically and creatively in buy to clear up difficulties.

“I attempt to teach all college students how to use their voice to stand up for them selves and other people,” she explained.

Caitlin Keller

Caitlin Keller

Caitlin Keller, connections instructor at Boonsboro Center School.

Keller is in her 3rd yr of teaching at WCPS and has taught in Maryland for 13 yrs.

She is the Ideal Buddies chapter chief at Boonsboro Center University, a WCPS news release states. This national business focuses on pairing pupils with and with out disabilities to foster authentic friendships. Keller is also an fairness coach for WCPS and sales opportunities coaching for staff members on matters of fairness, diversity, and inclusion.

“I am so honored to be bundled as a Teacher of the Year Finalist, and I’m enthusiastic to share my enthusiasm for educating pupils with intricate desires,” Keller said in an electronic mail.

“These students are able of acquiring so quite a few incredible points and with the help of a community of indispensable workforce customers, we are earning a variation in the lives of our learners and their households,” she said.

Erica Kozlowski

Erica Kozlowski

Erica Kozlowski, second-grade magnet teacher at Fountaindale Elementary Faculty.

Kozlowski is now in her ninth 12 months of teaching with WCPS and is a past Instructor of the 12 months nominee.

She facilitates university student-led company assignments, such as “Socktober,” a sock push to advantage Achieve of Washington County, Youngsters in Require and CASA. She implements an exercise referred to as “Genius Hour” in which pupils immediate their individual research and learning to a subject matter of their choice, a WCPS information release states.

“I was so astonished!,” Kozlowski said in an electronic mail. “I know and work with some of the ideal, most dedicated educators, so to be acknowledged in this way is these types of an honor.”

Elizabeth McDonald

Elizabeth McDonald

Elizabeth McDonald, biomedical science trainer at Washington County Specialized High Faculty.

McDonald has been a instructor for far more than 20 yrs, and has worked at WCPS for 11 decades. She has been a previous Teacher of the Year finalist in 2016 and 2020.

McDonald facilitates hands-on, interactive finding out encounters in her
classroom, and she pursues true-earth health-related scenarios that let her pupils to observe and query, a WCPS information release states.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to signify, share, and rejoice the incredible function of my learners and colleagues,” McDonald said in an e-mail. “I genuinely like instructing and the understanding neighborhood at Tech Significant evokes me each working day to develop and excel as an educator.

“I am passionate about the opportunity of high quality educational and profession/technological instruction to support youthful people produce their abilities, obtain an region in which to be successful, build university and profession readiness, and aid our group improve and prosper in the long run,” she mentioned. “Just becoming a instructor is the reward for me. It has been a lifelong objective of mine and I am thankful each and every day for the option to guidebook, nurture, obstacle, encourage, and understand from my extraordinary students.”

Ann Palmer

Ann Palmer

Ann Palmer, third-grade teacher at Jonathan Hager Elementary College.

Palmer has been teaching for virtually 40 many years, and has been with WCPS over the past 38 several years, a news launch states.

Palmer serves as the 3rd-grade district literacy lead trainer, which provides her the prospect to lead specialist progress for WCPS elementary teachers, and she styles best procedures in English language arts teaching methodologies for other educators.

“I have needed to be a trainer given that I was in the fourth quality so I’m grateful that each and every working day I get to devote functioning with my a few preferred folks and matters: youngsters, curriculum, and community,” Palmer stated in an electronic mail. “Remaining named as a finalist for WCPS Instructor of the Year has been both of those frustrating and inspiring.”

Instructor of the Yr: Schlegel amongst finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year

Guidance Personnel: WCPS announces finalists for Academic Assistance Personnel of the Yr Awards

Funds: Washington County Board of Training OKs $318.5 million spending budget commissioners get it next

Sherry Greenfield is the Education Reporter, covering Washington County General public Educational facilities and the Washington County Board of Schooling.

This report at first appeared on The Herald-Mail: WCPS announces five finalists for Teacher of the 12 months

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