TOWSON, MD—Nine outstanding school educators and administrators 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 honorees will be recognized at a special Champions for Children Celebration Gala at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., in Towson. At that event, Baltimore County’s Teacher, Principal, and Assistant Principal of the Year will be chosen from among the respective categories.

“These are the very best educators and administrators anywhere, and we are honored to celebrate them, their talents, and their dedication to providing the best opportunities possible for our young people,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “Every day, they give their all to make sure every child has the potential and prospect for success. They inspire and motivate us, and we are fortunate that they are a part of Team BCPS.”

The BCPS Teacher of the Year finalists were chosen from among 155 nominees by a committee composed of BCPS administrators, staff, students, Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO) representation, and current BCPS Teacher of the Year Stephanie Gerhold of Woodlawn Middle School.

The three finalists will be interviewed by the selection panel next week to determine who among them will be named 2025-26 BCPS Teacher of the Year during the livestreamed April 23 ceremony. The BCPS Teacher of the Year will then go on to represent the school system and its more than 9,500 professional educators in the Maryland Teacher of the Year program.

This year’s Teacher of the Year finalists are:

• Brittany Kolb, a Preschool/PreKindergarten special education teacher at Ridge Ruxton School and the BCPS Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
• Brittany Jakubowski, a Grades 6 and 8 English language arts and reading teacher at Catonsville Middle School and the BCPS Middle School Teacher of the Year.
• Nathaniel Eugene, an algebra teacher at Parkville High School and the BCPS High School Teacher of the Year.

Principal of the Year finalists this year were selected after a rigorous process that garnered 883 nominations from BCPS staff, students, families, and the community. Following reviews and interviews with adjudicators from both staff and The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., the three finalists were selected.

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

• Scott Conway of Hampton Elementary School, the BCPS Elementary School Principal of the Year.
• Amanda Shanks of Dumbarton Middle School, the BCPS Middle School Principal of the Year.
• Kieran O’Connell of Franklin High School, 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 community and vetted by the same panel that adjudicated the principal finalist selection. There were 624 nominations for Assistant Principal of the Year.

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

• Amber Cook of Elmwood Elementary School, the BCPS Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year.
• Sheila Luechtefeld of Pikesville Middle School, the BCPS Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.
• Angela Berry of New Town High School, the BCPS High School Assistant Principal of the Year.

In addition to these schoolhouse champions, the April 23 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, Community School Facilitator of the Year, Transportation Champion, AFSCME Employee of the Year, Volunteer Champion, and Business Partner Champion.

Please follow and like us: