The awards just keep coming for 2024 Maryland State Teacher of the Year Mary Kay Connerton. Nearly a year after being named the fifth educator from Anne Arundel County Public Schools to earn the state Teacher of the Year honor, Connerton has had her work recognized at the national level with a Travelers Insurance Award for Teaching Excellence.
Connerton is one of 48 recipients of the award across the nation. The awards are presented by the National Education Association Foundation and recognize exceptional K-12 public school educators from around the country for excellence in the classroom, dedication to family and community engagement, a commitment to equity and diversity, and advocacy for the teaching profession.
“I am honored and humbled to be one of the 48 educators in the nation to receive the 2025 Travelers Award for Teaching Excellence through the NEA Foundation,” said Connerton, who is in her 15th year with Anne Arundel County Public Schools and now serves as the school system’s wellness coordinator. “I am in awe that this work that I hold so dear to my heart is getting such notice because what drives me every day is simply doing everything I can to create a better world for our youth.
Prior to taking on the countywide role, Connerton was the wellness coordinator at Annapolis High School, where she earned a reputation as a fierce and relentless advocate for student and staff well-being. She created and led the school’s Trauma-Informed Leadership Team and utilized a whole-school approach to connect with teachers, administration, school counselors, social workers, and community partners. She also led monthly counseling groups such as yoga sessions for specific student needs and facilitates professional development for teachers that focuses on the health and wellness of students.
Connerton has been instrumental in the creation of a curriculum for the Stretch Your Wellness class available to students throughout the school system.