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Nominations for HCPSS Principal and Teacher of the Year Due Jan. 7, 2022

November 9th, 2021

Nominations are now open for the annual Howard County Public School System Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards. All nominations are due no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Submission information and full details can be found in each nomination packet below. HCPSS will publicly announce its principal and teacher nominees in the spring, following The Washington Post annual Teacher and Principal of the Year announcement.

Questions may be directed to:

Teacher of the Year

The award honors excellence in teaching, and encourages creative and quality instruction. HCPSS selects one teacher to serve as the school system nominee for The Washington Post Teacher of the Year, and one as the nominee for Maryland Teacher of the Year.

HCPSS offers additional support to those completing the nomination package. Details can be found on the Teacher of the Year Canvas page.

Nominations may be submitted by teachers, administrators, students, former students, parents or members of the general public. Teachers may not nominate themselves.

Download the Teacher of the Year nomination packet

Principal of the Year

The award seeks to recognize those principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment. HCPSS selects one principal who also serves as the Howard County nominee for The Washington Post Principal of the Year.

Nominations may be submitted by teachers, students, former students, parents, administrators or members of the general public. Principals may not nominate themselves.

Download the Principal of the Year nomination packet


Past Recipients

2021

Principal of the Year: Denise Lancaster, Deep Run ES
Teachers of the Year: Niklas Berry, Oakland Mills High School and Amy Woolf, Oakland Mills Middle School

2020

Principal of the Year: Nancy Thompson, Talbott Springs Elementary School
Teachers of the Year: Jerome Pickens, Bryant Woods Elementary School and Suzan Young, Homewood Center

2019

Principal of the Year: Josh Wasilewski, Long Reach High School
Teachers of the Year: Sylvia Hennessie, Guilford Elementary School and Greg Murach, Mt. Hebron High School

2018

Principal of the Year: Kimberlyn Pratesi, Hammond Elementary School
Teacher of the Year: Elizabeth Waltman, Lime Kiln Middle School

2017

Principal of the Year: Troy Todd, Running Brook Elementary School
Teacher of the Year: Maddy Halbach, Applications and Research Lab (ARL)

2016

Principal of the Year: Cher Jones, Bonnie Branch Middle School
Teacher of the Year: Shalonda Holt, Centennial High School