Seventy-five public school educators have been nominated for the 2025 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award. These talented teachers, representing schools from across the district, have been recognized for their dedication to fostering student success, creating inclusive learning environments, and going above and beyond in their classrooms.
This year’s nominees are:
Lauren M. Arditti, Brooklyn Park Middle School
Cielo Bacarisas, Glen Burnie High School
Barry Booth Jr., Arundel Middle School
Alicia Bourassa, Eastport Elementary School
Allison Brewer, Mayo Elementary School
Bill Bulmahn, Overlook Elementary School
Khalifah J. Carter, Meade Middle School
Leslie M. Curtin, Tracey's Elementary School
Samantha Cygan, Old Mill High School
Sunny Deitrick, South River High School
Sarah DelSignore, Northeast High School
Brittni Derkacz, Marley Middle School
Jodi Distad, Crofton Meadows Elementary School
Kimberly Dougherty, Southern Middle School
Maria Dunford, North Glen Elementary School
Stephanie Earley, Broadneck Elementary School
Tambria Eaton, Lindale Middle School
Tracy Edwards, Crofton High School
Melissa Fisher, Edgewater Elementary School
Katherine Gennantonio, Northeast Middle School
Lauren Glover, Tyler Heights Elementary School
Steven Gorrick, Severna Park High School
Courtney Gruss, Pershing Hill Elementary School
Lucy Harris, Windsor Farm Elementary School
Katrina Hatfield, South Shore Elementary School
Buckley W. Hayes, Center of Applied Technology – South
Jessica Henderson, Park Elementary School
JoAnne Henry, Corkran Middle School
Catherine Hughes, Hillsmere Elementary School
Pamela Karr-Dawson, Shipley's Choice Elementary School
Melinda Keenan, Shady Side Elementary School
Caprice Kennedy, Annapolis Middle School
Donn Kerr, Center of Applied Technology – North
Kelli Knode, West Meade Early Education Center
Marlene Kramer, Southern High School
Stacy Langhirt, Severna Park Elementary School
Melissa Leccese, Davidsonville Elementary School
Lauren Lemaster, Marley Elementary School
Candace Ludwig, Riviera Beach Elementary School
Jenna Lydon, Four Seasons Elementary School
Jonathan Martin, Arnold Elementary School
Carla McConnaughhay, Mills-Parole Elementary School
Katie McElree, Monarch Academy Annapolis
Cecilia Miga, Annapolis High School
Emily Minnigerode, Millersville Elementary School
Cameron Moltz, Point Pleasant Elementary School
Jennifer Mullins, Woodside Elementary School
Jessica Nowak, Rolling Knolls Elementary School
Keyonna Ogunubi, Hilltop Elementary School
Jessica Overstreet, Severn Elementary School
Laura Palermo, Benfield Elementary School
Christan Palopoli, Arundel High School
Rebecca Peters, Central Elementary School
Sarah Ramirez Cross, North County High School
Jennifer Ross, Southgate Elementary School
Kristi Rupard, Crofton Middle School
Catie Russo, Broadneck High School
Jackie Sanderson, Belle Grove Elementary School
Chelsea Sedghi, Severn River Middle School
Justina Sherman, George T. Cromwell Elementary School
Amelia Smith, Deale Elementary School
Erika Smith, Jones Elementary School
Gina Sullivan, Manor View Elementary School
Kathy Swartz, Oak Hill Elementary School
Marcia Taylor, Jacobsville Elementary School
Anne Taylor, Old Mill Middle School North
Josh Thompson, Magothy River Middle School
Molly Volk, Fort Smallwood Elementary School
Jessica Warrington, Old Mill Middle School South
Nichole Washington, Georgetown East Elementary School
Allison Webb, Solley Elementary School
Kendyl Whiteley, Folger McKinsey Elementary School
Laura H. Williams, Chesapeake High School
Jennifer Zak, Ridgeway Elementary School
Bethany Zimmerman, High Point Elementary School
In addition to the public school nominees, two educators from independent schools were nominated for the Anne Arundel County Independent Schools Teacher of the Year award. They are:
Susan Giunta, St. Paul's Lutheran School
Gillian Moore, St. Mary's Elementary School
This year's nominees will be honored by the Education Foundation of AACPS at the 39th Annual Excellence in Education Awards Dinner on Friday, April 25. The event will culminate in the announcements of the 2025 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and celebration of the 2024-2025 Principal of the Year. AACPS’ Teacher of the Year will represent the county in the Maryland State Teacher of the Year competition.
Elizabeth Heist, a music teacher at Lake Shore Elementary School, currently holds the title of 2024 AACPS Teacher of the Year. Over the past eight years, three of the AACPS Teachers of the Year – Mary Kay Connerton of Annapolis High School (2023), Teresa Beilstein of South Shore Elementary School (2020), and Josh Carroll of South River High School (2018) – have been named Maryland Teacher of the Year.
Questions about the Teacher of the Year program should be directed to Jenn Lombardi at jlombardi@aacps.org. Questions about the Excellence in Education event should be directed to Joe Callahan at jfcallahan@aacps.org.
Information about tickets to the event will be available in the coming months.