The Maryland Teacher of the Year award may just come down to local teachers who pride themselves on taking time to talk to students and treat them as if they were their own kids.
Christine Roland, a science teacher at Edgewood High School in Harford County, and Alicia Appel, an English and college prep course teacher at Southern High School in Anne Arundel County, were named two of the seven honorees.
They were selected by a panel of judges from various state education organizations.
“She?s an inspiration to all of us and feels confident in her students and has a rare ability to connect immediately with students,” new Southern High Principal Maryalice Todd said of Appel. “She?s established a rapport right away, and is really dedicated to student success and diligently works to ensure each student has the opportunity to excel.”
Appel, named Anne Arundel?s teacher of the year in April, is beginning her third year at Southern High and has been a teacher for 11 years.
“I make sure I talk to every student every day, because I feel if the kids are going to learn, they?re going to have to be emotionally connected to the material and the teacher,” Appel said. “I make the kids do the work, and that makes them do well.”
Roland is beginning her sixth year as a teacher, all spent at Edgewood. “I try to make classes fun and hands-on and teach my kids the way I?d teach my own kids,” she said. “Teaching science, by the nature of the beast, is the most fun because we get to play and it?s much more active.”
Both Edgewood Principal Larissa Santos, also a new principal this year, and Todd said their respective teacher honorees already have demonstrated their excellence.
“Alicia is warm, charismatic and thoughtful,” Todd said. “She?s one of the finest educators I?ve met in my 35 years in the profession, and I just came here in July.”
The state Department of Education will name the winner at a gala on Oct. 5 at Martin?s West in Baltimore. The winner will compete for the National Teacher of the Year award next spring.
Five others make finals
» Radhika Plakkot, Calvert County
» Karla Eberspacher, Dorchester County
» Douglas Oxford, Garrett County
» Raul Ortiz, Montgomery County
» April Todd, Somerset County
