By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(Jan. 30, 2020) Fourteen educators from each school in Worcester County were announced as Teacher of the Year finalists at the monthly Worcester County Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in Newark.

The program recognizes one teacher from each school who has demonstrated excellence in the classroom. These 14 school-level finalists then compete at the county level to be named the Worcester County Teacher of the Year.

After county awards are presented, the 24 teachers, representing each of the school systems in Maryland, will have their portfolios judged by the Maryland State Department of Education and the field is narrowed to seven finalists.

Worcester County earned the state title once, in 2007, when seventh grade English Language Arts teacher, Michelle Hammond, of Stephen Decatur Middle School, took home the honor.

This year’s finalists are: Kristin Parker, Berlin Intermediate School; Jenna Ashcraft, Buckingham Elementary School; Stacey Russell, Cedar Chapel Special School; Andrese Foreman, Ocean City Elementary School; Danielle Jackson, Pocomoke Elementary School; Jack Cleveland, Pocomoke High School; Christina McQuaid, Pocomoke Middle School; Mackenzie Keyser, Showell Elementary School; Connie Bowen, Snow Hill Elementary School; Ryan    Severson, Snow Hill High School; Jerri Mattingly-Freeman, Snow Hill Middle School; Sherryl Olson, Stephen Decatur High School; Michelle Boyle, Stephen Decatur Middle School and Maureen Brittingham, Worcester Technical High School.

Last year, Gina Russell, a special education teacher at Snow Hill Elementary School, was named the Worcester County Teacher of the Year.

Teachers were nominated through a ballot process by a student, parent, colleague, administrator or community member. The Teacher of the Year recipient will be announced in early April at an annual banquet.