CHESTERTOWN — Kent County Middle School’s Kaitlyn Wright is one of seven finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year, Superintendent Mary McComas announced Monday night during the regularly scheduled monthly Kent County Board of Education meeting.
On Tuesday, the state Board of Education issued a news release announcing the finalists.
Wright teaches seventh grade English language arts at KCMS, where she has revived the theater program, served on various leadership teams and helped develop the curriculum.
Also, Wright promotes growth through storytelling in her community as director of the Garfield Center for the Arts’ Playmakers Summer Camp.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration at Salisbury University.
Wright was selected as Kent County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in April.
“We are so proud of Ms. Wright and we’re excited to cheer her on in this final phase of the process,” McComas said.
Wright and her six fellow finalists were selected from the initial pool of 24 local teachers of the year — one from every public school system in the state.
Finalists were selected by a panel of judges from key Maryland education organizations representing principals, teachers, school boards, labor partners and families.
According to the Maryland Board of Education news release, finalists were evaluated against rigorous criteria that included student achievement, teaching philosophy, academic results, community involvement and knowledge of educational issues.
In addition to Kent County’s Kaitlyn Wright, the finalists are: Kat Locke-Jones, a seventh grade English language arts teacher at Hampstead Hill Academy in Baltimore City; Stephanie Gerhold, who teaches ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Spanish at Woodlawn Middle School in Baltimore County; Brittany Rigdon, who teaches landscaping and horticulture production at Cecil County School of Technology; Jessica I. Nichols, who teaches social studies at River Hill High School in Howard County; Jeremy Hillyard, who teaches Spanish and ESOL mathematics at Easton High School in Talbot County; and Gabrielle C. Remington, a reading specialist at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Worcester County.
The Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced during a gala reception and dinner at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Baltimore on Oct. 4.
“I congratulate all of the finalists for their unwavering commitment and exceptional dedication. Their hard work and passion extend far beyond the classroom, shaping the future of our students and inspiring excellence throughout our communities. We celebrate their contributions and the profound impact they make every day,” state Superintendent Carey M. Wright said in the news release.
Joshua L. Michael, state Board of Education president, said the finalists “exemplify excellence and lifelong learning. They create transformative learning experiences and help our students realize their full potential. On behalf of the State Board of Education, I share our sincere gratitude for their deep commitment to improving the lives of children through public education.”
The Maryland Teacher of the Year will spend the 2024-2025 school year as a speaker and advisor on statewide education issues. They will be honored by the president at the White House next spring.
Trish McGee, owner and publisher of The Evening Enterprise, is an elected member of the Kent County Board of Education.
