TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools officials have named their 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Assistant Principal of the Year.

Stephanie Gerhold, an English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher at Woodlawn Middle School, has been named Teacher of the Year for BCPS.

The award was announced on Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a gala at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson.

Also announced during the event were the 2024-25 BCPS Principal of the Year, Melissa Lingenfelder of Sandalwood Elementary School in Essex, and 2024-25 Assistant Principal of the Year, Dorian Barnes of Deer Park Magnet Middle School in Randallstown.

Gerhold was one of three finalists from across the county who were selected to receive the award. She has been teaching for 20 years and currently serves as department chair of the ESOL, World Languages, Science, and Library Media Services programs at Woodlawn Middle.

A graduate of Washington College and Salisbury University, Gerhold has taught students from Prekindergarten to college and has served as both a resource teacher and an instructor in the BCPS Virtual Learning Program. She says that one of her favorite things about her job is witnessing students become the first in their families to attend college or hearing that former students are now teachers themselves.

“Collaborating with administrators, educators, staff, and local stakeholders to provide top-notch instruction, regardless of ZIP codes or English language proficiency, is a privilege,” Gerhold said. “This daily inspiration drives me to ensure all students receive culturally responsive, high-quality instruction tailored to their needs, celebrating their diverse backgrounds and cultures.”

Gerhold will represent Baltimore County Public Schools and its more than 9,000 professional educators in the Maryland state Teacher of the Year program. She was one of eight recipients of the “Champions for Children” award at the gala event, which were selected by administrators and staff, employee union representatives, and other members of the BCPS community.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.