SU Alumni Teachers Earn Honors
Worcester County Teacher of the Year
Somerset County Teacher of the Year
Wicomico County Teacher of the Year
In 1925, Salisbury University opened its doors with the primary mission of educating exemplary teachers. Now, a century later that mission is still being fulfilled as SU alumni routinely garner accolades from their schools, counties and the state.
When the 2023 Teacher of the Year awards were announced throughout Maryland, a clear maroon and gold color palette emerged among semifinalists and individual district honorees, especially on the Lower Eastern Shore. Of 46 semifinal selections in the tri-county area, 35 are former SU students. Numerous other Sea Gulls earned semifinalist honors across the state.
A number of Sea Gulls have earned Teacher of the Year accolades for their districts, making them eligible for consideration as Maryland’s top teacher. SU alumna Tara Martens ’11, M’17 is Wicomico County Teacher of the Year. Jaimie Ridgely ’01, M’11, Ed.D.’19 was named Worcester County Teacher of the Year. Tania Cunningham-Raycrow M’16 was announced as Somerset County Teacher of the Year. Briana Beulah ’15 was named Dorchester County Teacher of the Year, and Nicole Rhoades ’03 was announced as Frederick County’s Teacher of the Year.
In addition, Amanda Hammersla ’19 was named the Rising Star Award winner in Montgomery County as the district’s top second-year teacher. Malcolm Bratcher ’19, M’23 and John Wixted ’17 garnered Outstanding Music Educator honors from the Maryland Music Educators Association.
The fact that so many of our graduates feel a connection to the area and remain in public school systems on the Lower Shore demonstrates that the relationship between the Seidel School and the local schools creates a meaningful bond.”
Seidel School Dean Dr. Laurie Henry
35
of 46 semifinal selections
in the tri-county area are former SU students
15
of the 24 teachers honored in Wicomico County are SU alumni
11
of 14 Worcester County honorees are SU alumni
6
of the 8 Somerset County Teacher of the Year semifinalists are SU alumni
“Our goal is to send the best educators out in the field to be leaders in their schools, wherever that may be,” said Dr. Laurie Henry, dean of the Seidel School of Education. “The fact that so many of our graduates feel a connection to the area and remain in public school systems on the Lower Shore demonstrates that the relationship between the Seidel School and the local schools creates a meaningful bond.” SU students often are connected with these schools through the Seidel School’s award-winning Professional Development Schools program, which allows teacher candidates to spend time in the classroom honing their craft. In all, the Seidel School partners with 44 schools in seven Maryland counties to provide preparation for prospective teachers. In the past two decades, SU has been home to two Maryland Teachers of the Year at the state level: Aaron Deal (2003) and April Todd (2008). When the 2023 winner is named this fall, there just might be a Sea Gull in that position once again.
View a complete list of those honored as Maryland Teacher of the Year semifinalists.
