TOWSON, MD—Nine superlative school educators from across Baltimore County have been selected as this year’s finalists for the BCPS Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Assistant Principal of the Year.

The trios will be celebrated at a special Champions for Children Celebration Gala at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Road, in Towson. At that event, Baltimore County’s teacher, principal, and assistant principal of the year will be chosen from among the respective groups.

“Congratulations to all of our finalists for teacher, principal, and assistant principal of the year for Baltimore County Public Schools,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “These gifted educators represent the best of our already talented teachers and school administrators, and we are grateful daily to them and all their colleagues for the wonderful job they do serving our children, our schools, and our community. We cannot thank them or honor them enough.”

The BCPS Teacher of the Year finalists were chosen from among a record-setting 169 school teacher of the year nominees by a committee composed of BCPS administrators, staff, students, TABCO representation, and current BCPS Teacher of the Year Alicia Amaral Freeman.

The three finalists will be interviewed by the selection panel next week to determine who among them will be named 2023-2024 BCPS Teacher of the Year during the livestreamed April 19 ceremony. The BCPS Teacher of the Year will then go on to represent the school system and its more than 9,000 professional educators in the Maryland state Teacher of the Year program.

This year’s finalists are:

• Beverly Folkoff teaches Grades 3-5 special education at Relay Elementary School and is the BCPS Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
• Talven Pearsell teaches mathematics at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School and is the BCPS Middle School Teacher of the Year.
• Abigail Karey teaches vocational/life skills at Maiden Choice School and is the BCPS High School Teacher of the Year.

Principal of the Year finalists this year were selected after a rigorous process that opened nominations for the first time to all BCPS staff, students, families, and the community. Following reviews, school visits, and interviews with adjudicators from both staff and the Education Foundation of Baltimore County, the three finalists emerged from 1,043 nominations submitted earlier this year.

This year’s finalists for Principal of the Year are:

• Andrea Derrien of the Chatsworth School is the BCPS Elementary School Principal of the Year.
• Kalisha Miller of Pikesville Middle School is the BCPS Middle School Principal of the Year.
• Brian Powell of Kenwood High School is the BCPS High School Principal of the Year.

Like the principal candidates, Assistant Principal of the Year finalists were nominated by BCPS staff, students, families, and the public and vetted by the same panel that adjudicated the principal finalist selection. There were 791 nominations for Assistant Principal of the Year.

This year’s finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year are:

• Anthony Schultz of Westowne Elementary School is the BCPS Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year.
• Jodi Pasquale of General John Stricker Middle School is the BCPS Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.
• Nicole Bridges of Towson High School is the BCPS High School Assistant Principal of the Year.

In addition to these schoolhouse champions for BCPS students, the April 19 gala will also celebrate a variety of other all-star school supporters, including a “Rising Star” Teacher of the Year, Supervisory Leader of the Year, Supporting Services Employee of the Year, Bus Driver/Attendant of the Year, AFSCME Employee of the Year, Volunteer Champion, and Business Partner Champion.

Photo via Pixabay