Educators from two high schools, one middle school, and one elementary school make up the field of four finalists announced today for the 2014 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. The educators will be among 53 to be honored at the 28th annual Excellence in Education banquet at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum on April 10, 2014.
The public school finalists, selected from a field of 15 semifinalists, are:
- Christina Houstian, a social studies teacher at Broadneck High School
- Susan Sheehy, a fourth-grade teacher at Millersville Elementary School
- Jennifer Swiech, an AVID teacher at Meade Middle School
- Brad Wray, a social studies teacher at Arundel High School
In addition to the public school finalists, three educators have been nominated for the 2014 Independent Schools Teacher of the Year. They are:
- Amy Brunner, Archbishop Spalding High School
- Erin Kolarik, St. Martin’s Lutheran School
- Matthew Martelli, St. Mary’s High School
The banquet is presented annually in partnership by Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to outstanding teachers, the banquet also will honor local business and community partners that have forged critical partnerships with schools across the county, directly benefitting AACPS’ nearly 79,000 students.
Interim Superintendent Mamie J. Perkins surprised the finalists this morning by visiting classrooms with bouquets of flowers.
The finalists will be interviewed by a panel made up of educators, administrators, students, and business leaders. The Public School Teacher of the Year will represent Anne Arundel County at the state Teacher of the Year competition later this year.
Other teachers to be honored at the event are:
- Lyniper Al-Os, Annapolis High School
- Kenneth Baker, Bodkin Elementary School
- Michelle April Ballenger, Georgetown East Elementary School
- Rebecca Bittman, North County High School
- Jane Bounelis, Arnold Elementary School
- Brad Bower, Crofton Middle School
- Alyson Bradford, Odenton Elementary School
- Shannon Brown, Jones Elementary School
- Julie Castillo, Lothian Elementary School
- Jamie Chestnut, Oakwood Elementary School
- David A. Christopher, Old Mill Middle School North
- Laura Christopher, Brooklyn Park Elementary School
- Julie Ciotola, Glendale Elementary School
- Carol Cox, George T. Cromwell Elementary School
- Michael Cservek, Severna Park Middle School
- Allison Ellis, Glen Burnie High School
- Damian Ferragamo, Old Mill High School
- Jennifer Figueroa, Chesapeake High School
- Rachel Fitzgerald, Marley Middle School
- Joanne Francis, Severn River Middle School
- Vanessa Gilbert, Freetown Elementary School
- Susan Grieve, Folger McKinsey Elementary School
- Lindsey Hammond, Quarterfield Elementary School
- Rose Catharine Hammond, Ruth Parker Eason Special School
- Linsey Haughton, Windsor Farm Elementary School
- Elizabeth Hewitt, Jessup Elementary School
- Jessica Howell, Manor View Elementary School
- Stacy Kearns, Corkran Middle School
- Eileen Keck, Richard Henry Lee Elementary School
- Dianne Lloyd, Davidsonville Elementary School
- Rachel Long, Wiley H. Bates Middle School
- Suzanne MacLeod, Linthicum Elementary School
- Jill Manning, Mary Moss Academy
- Robert Mauro, Lindale Middle School
- Cynthia McNeel Jacoby, Severna Park Elementary School
- Amanda Mays, Lake Shore Elementary School
- Patricia Medeiros, Tracey’s Elementary School
- Jennifer Suzanne Mobley, Mayo Elementary School
- Amy Mueller, Marley Elementary School
- Jane Newton, Southern Middle School
- Jessica Nolan, Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School
- Melissa Norwood, Southern High School
- Rebecca Pope, Crofton Elementary School
- Colette Preis, Central Special School
- Benjamin Thompson, George Fox Middle School
- Stacey Walczak, Seven Oaks Elementary School
- Sherise Webb, North Glen Elementary School
- Joshua Webster, Solley Elementary School
- Jacqueline Wilford, Northeast High School
Tickets for the event are $55 each. For sponsorship information and ticket orders, visit www.aaaccc.org. For other information, please call 410-266-3960.