PARKVILLE, MD—Five Baltimore County Public Schools educators have been named finalists for 2020-21 BCPS Teacher of the Year, one of whom is a special education instructor at Parkville Middle School.

Robert Runk is a special education teacher at Parkville Middle. He also served as a paraeducator there. He leads a mentorship program for male students at Parkville Middle and leads a martial arts program through the Parkville Recreational Program. He has worked for 17 years at Parkville Middle in various roles and is in his sixth year there as a teacher. He is a Sparrows Point High graduate.

Bianca Crockett is a kindergarten teacher at Battle Grove Elementary. She serves on her school’s leadership committee and is also the equity team leader. This year, she presented at the BCPS Leadership Summit for Young Women in High School and the Maryland Cultural Proficiency Conference. She is in her fifth year at Battle Grove and her 10th year overall as an educator.

Claudia Enders is a special education teacher at Charlesmont Elementary. She works with some of the school’s youngest learners, who are just 3- and 4-years old. Enders leads Charlesmont’s environmental club. She recently partnered with the Baltimore County Police Department to ensure that her students could build a rapport. She is in her third year at Charlesmont and her 13th as a teacher.

Amara Griffin leads the makerspace lab at Lansdowne Elementary, where she provides hands-on science, technology, math, and engineering activities for the school’s 631 students. She also organized efforts to develop Lansdowne Elementary’s new garden. Griffin is in her sixth year at Lansdowne Elementary and 11th overall as an educator. She is a Woodlawn High graduate.

Taylor Ransome is the science department chair at New Town High. He founded The Initiative, a male mentorship program at New Town High. He is also the school’s junior varsity basketball coach and Project Lead the Way coordinator. He is in his fifth year as a teacher at New Town High and eighth year overall.

“All of these dedicated educators go above and beyond for their students,” BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams said. “In addition to being exemplary teachers, they are making a true difference in their school communities.”

One of the finalists will be named 2020-21 BCPS Teacher of the Year and will be Baltimore County’s Maryland Teacher of the Year representative.

Principals at the 175 BCPS schools, programs, and centers could nominate one educator for BCPS Teacher of the Year.

The BCPS Teacher of the Year selection committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff, selected the five finalists.