By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Worcester Technical High School Culinary and Pastry Arts Program Lead Phillip Cropper is one of seven finalists up for the distinguished honor of Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Chef Cropper oversees the tech school’s culinary department. He has kickstarted initiatives like the Pines Café and a collaborative cultural partnership with a school in France, providing his students with real-world, hands-on instruction. Cropper’s commitment to honing his kids’ skillset for high school and beyond has landed him a slot as a finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Each county in the state, of which there are 24, including Baltimore City, selects a Teacher of the Year. Seven of these were chosen to vie for the honor of 2026’s Maryland Teacher of the Year. The person who receives this recognition will then be up for the National Teacher of the Year award, to be announced in April, and will spend the school year as an advisor and speaker on the state’s educational issues.

Cropper said that he learned of his selection as a candidate for the statewide accomplishment on Wednesday of last week, but had to keep it a secret until the Maryland State Department of Education issued its press release with the top seven on Friday. Aside from Cropper, the finalists include Jacqueline Sanderson, Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Jevons Liu, Baltimore City Public Schools; Alonna Soward-Puryear, Frederick County Public Schools; Natalie Pretzello, Howard County Public School System; Marcie Mamas, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools; and Emma Cohn Matthews, Wicomico County Public Schools.

The WCPS teacher noted that he has his final interview for consideration on Sept. 20. A special gala reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Hunt Valley. At this time, the Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced.

“Each of our finalists represents the very best of Maryland educators,” said State Superintendent of Schools Carey M. Wright in the MSDE memo. “Their dedication, creativity and leadership are shaping the future of our students and communities.”

Cropper said that he believes he was nominated for Maryland Teacher of the Year in part because he is a “true career and technical education” instructor.

“Most of our kids in CTE aren’t heading off to college, so for them to actually see classroom instruction and how it relates to hands-on learning and then how it can prepare a future for them after school is something I do think is unique,” he said.

Cropper’s selection as a top seven Maryland teacher is due to his creative instruction style, led by his commitment to CTE. Last year, he organized an exchange culinary program in collaboration with chefs and students from the Hôtelier Lycée in Lille, France, a “sister city” of the State of Maryland. Developed in partnership with MSDE and WTHS, the young French cooks and educators visited Worcester Tech for a 10-day immersive Eastern Shore experience.

The American and French students worked alongside one another in professional kitchens, on farms and during “curated community experiences,” Cropper said. The kids participated in workshops, prepared a dinner and visited aquaculture sites and dairy producers.

That cultural program will continue every other year. Next time, Cropper’s WTHS students will make their way to France, where Hôtelier Lycée will host a multi-day culinary practice. Cropper said that he and his kids are slated to go next year, around February or March.

In addition to a cross-continental food exchange, a foundation of Cropper’s teaching includes the successful Pines Café. Located in the TidalHealth facility in Ocean Pines, the establishment offers a variety of items, including sandwiches, soups, salads and grab-and-go dinners, to the community. The food is prepared by WTHS’ culinary students at the tech school, and then transported by Cropper to the site. A few apprentices and workers are employed at the shop, where they oversee the daily operations.

The café and the French partnership provide the young chefs with experience working outside a traditional school setting. The café, Cropper said, teaches the children not only cooking skills, but how to manage a food service business, something many of the kids hope to one day run. The unique instruction made the WTHS teacher stand out as a top educator in Maryland, he believes.

“My whole platform is about a classroom without walls,” Cropper said. “Meaning, my kids are still coming to school in a brick-and-mortar building, but they’re learning so much more than just inside the brick and mortar. They’re hands-on learning, they’re thinking outside of the box. They’re in the kitchen relating to real life. It’s just a whole new approach or philosophy on traditional learning.”

Cropper said that he is excited to be honored as a finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year. Worcester County has had one educator receive the award during its over 30 years in existence, Michelle Hammond of Stephen Decatur Middle School, who was named the top state instructor in 2007. Now, the Eastern Shore school system has another chance at the accolade.

Cropper was named the tech school’s Teacher of the Year in January. In April, he was recognized as the county’s educator. In honor of the accomplishment, the chef was given a Jeep Compass to use for the year by Hertrich. He will go on to vie for the top spot in the state, to be announced at the end of the month.

“Being a finalist is amazing,” Cropper said.