Maryland Teacher Of The Year Is Anne Arundel STEM Educator

EDGEWATER, MD — South River High School teacher Josh Carroll was named the 2017-18 Maryland Teacher of the Year by the Maryland State Department of Education. Friday night's announcement by State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon culminated a six-month run for Carroll, who was named Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year in April and a finalist for the state award in September.

According to a news release from the school district, only two other Anne Arundel Schools teachers – Linda Adamson of Mayo and Jessup elementary schools in 1993-94 and Patricia Neidhart of Broadneck High School in 1988-89 – had previously earned state Teacher of the Year honors.

“I want to take a moment to tell you how humbled I am,” Carroll told the crowd assembled at Martin’s West for the celebration, says the release. “There is nowhere in the world that I would rather teach.”

Carroll, who teaches STEM classes at South River High School, was one of seven finalists for the award. The others were: Justin Holbrook of Baltimore City, Thomas McHugh of Carroll County, Heather Roth of Garrett County, Amy E. Mangold of Harford County, Maddy Halbach of Howard County, and Katie Fox of Talbot County.

Carroll has spent 18 years in Anne Arundel County Public Schools, all at the high school level. He began his career as an English teacher at Glen Burnie High School and moved to South River in 2006. He coordinated the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination program for six years before moving to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math program. His desire to affect as many students as possible also led him into athletic coaching and mentorship. He has become involved in curriculum writing, is a member of South River’s Principal’s Leadership Team, and chairs the school’s Student Recognition Committee.

“This is a great moment for Josh Carroll, a great moment for South River High School, and a great moment for our entire school system,” Superintendent George Arlotto said in a news release. “In classrooms all across our county, teachers create magic for their students every day. This award is a testament to that, and we could not be more proud of Josh.”

Photo of South River High School teacher Josh Carroll courtesy of Anne Arundel County Public Schools