Joe Bigsby, a STEM teacher at Magothy River Middle School, was named the 2026 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year on April 25, 2026. The announcement came before a crowd of more than 700 people at the culmination of the 40th annual Excellence in Education Awards held at the Live! Event Center at Arundel Mills.
Bigsby has taught Anne Arundel County Public Schools students since 2018 and has spent the entirety of that time at Magothy River Middle School. During that time he has built a reputation as a dynamic educator with a passion for student connection and innovation.
“This is not about one person,” Bigsby told the crowd moments after his name was announced. “It’s about all of Anne Arundel County and what we bring, the excellence that we bring. I am reminded of that every single day as I talk to other teachers and I realize that it’s not a solo thing. I did not win tonight. We won tonight. The kids won tonight. Anne Arundel County won tonight because that’s what we do. We do things excellent.”
In his classrooms and beyond Bigsby works to build inclusive communities where students feel safe and inspired to grow. He also serves in district leadership roles including as a lead educator in computer science initiatives.
Bigsby is the second Magothy River Middle School educator to win the award in its 40-year history. Penny Vahsen earned the honor in 1988.
Bigsby will now represent Anne Arundel County Public Schools in the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition. AACPS has had a finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year in 11 of the last 13 years.
Also at the event Monarch Academy Glen Burnie Principal Kim Jakovics was honored with the George Arlotto Leadership Award as the 2026 AACPS Principal of the Year. In all 88 teachers and five principals were recognized during this year’s Excellence in Education program.
The Southern Maryland Chronicle has reported on Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year announcements and finalists for several years providing regional readers with updates on statewide education achievements. This coverage helps Southern Maryland families and educators stay informed about best practices in STEM instruction and student engagement that can be applied locally in St. Mary’s Calvert and Charles county schools.
Southern Maryland public schools maintain their own robust teacher recognition programs that mirror the excellence celebrated in Anne Arundel County. On February 20, 2026 Emily Leedy a third-grade teacher was named top teacher in Charles County during a ceremony honoring nominees and finalists. On April 28, 2025 Alison Cheney a physical education teacher at Gwynn Elementary School in Charles County was named Charles County Public Schools Teacher of the Year for her work creating inclusive environments for students. These honors underscore the high standards maintained across Maryland’s public education system and the shared focus on preparing students for future careers in science technology engineering and mathematics.
STEM education remains a priority in Southern Maryland where schools integrate hands-on learning to address workforce needs in the region’s growing technology defense and maritime sectors. Teachers like Bigsby who emphasize computer science and inclusive classrooms provide models for local educators who work with students from diverse backgrounds in counties that border the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. The recognition of Bigsby highlights how individual classroom innovation contributes to broader district and state goals for student success.
The Excellence in Education Awards program now in its 40th year continues to spotlight the contributions of thousands of Maryland educators. By honoring teachers and principals the event reinforces the value of public education and encourages community support for schools throughout the state. For Southern Maryland residents who follow these announcements the stories serve as inspiration and a reminder that dedicated educators in every county play a vital role in shaping the next generation.
Bigsby’s selection as county Teacher of the Year adds to a strong track record for AACPS in the Maryland Teacher of the Year process. The program’s emphasis on collaboration and student-centered learning aligns with initiatives in Southern Maryland districts that promote similar values through local awards and professional development opportunities. As Bigsby advances to the state level his work will bring attention to effective teaching strategies that benefit students across Maryland including those in the tri-county area.
This year’s awards ceremony celebrated a total of 93 honorees reflecting the depth of talent in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The event also provided a platform for sharing successes in areas such as computer science leadership and inclusive education practices that resonate with educators in Southern Maryland.
The following Teacher of the Year nominees, semifinalists (indicated with an asterisk) and finalists (indicated with two asterisks) were recognized at the event:
- Nelson X. Alvarez Morales, Woodside Elementary School
- Theresa Bange, Severn Run High School*
- Jennifer Basinger, AACPS Virtual Academy
- Demetri Bedel, Old Mill High School
- Kimberly Lawton Bloomfield, Severna Park Middle School
- Tabatha Brooks, Chesapeake High School
- Serena Brown, Glendale Elementary School
- Aimee Castaing, Tyler Heights Elementary School
- Erin Chester, Crofton Middle School
- Laura Christopher, Ferndale Early Education Center
- Emily Clark, Benfield Elementary School
- Joanne Clarke, Walter S. Mills-Parole Elementary School
- Jessica Coyne, Northeast High School
- Heather Cummins, Old Mill Middle School South
- Matthew D’Agostino, Riviera Beach Elementary School
- Jenilee Denney, Mayo Elementary School
- Judith Diaz, Meade High School*
- Bethann Michelle Dixon, Lindale Middle School
- Nicole Drennan, Shady Side Elementary School
- Daniel Ells, Central Middle School
- Samantha Emge, Marley Glen School**
- Michelle Emond, Southern High School
- Jamie Erickson, Lake Shore Elementary School*
- Kathleen Fagan, Arundel Middle School*
- Inma Fernandez-Pacheco, Crofton High School
- Nicole Fornadel, Severna Park High School
- Lindsay Fuller, Germantown Elementary School
- Melissa Gardner, Edgewater Elementary School
- Andie Graziano, MacArthur Middle School
- Scott Gurien, Crofton Elementary School
- Starlyn Hacker, Brooklyn Park Middle School
- Matt Hall, Arundel High School
- Brenda Heim, Mary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy
- Vicki Hill, Deale Elementary School
- Niki Hromanik, Marley Elementary School
- Jamie Hudgins, Jacobsville Elementary School
- Shawn Hurman, High Point Elementary School
- Nik M. Jones, Belvedere Elementary School**
- Karen Jones-Lantzy, Tracey’s Elementary School
- Beth Joy, South Shore Elementary School
- Jason C. Kahler, South River High School
- Noah Kiehle, Ridgeway Elementary School*
- Erika Klick, Odenton Elementary School
- Heather Kurdziel, West Meade Early Education Center
- Erika Ladd, Brock Bridge Elementary School
- Casey Lafferty, Park Elementary School
- Jen Lee, Folger McKinsey Elementary School
- Jenna Lerro, Annapolis Middle School
- Walt Lindberg, Pershing Hill Elementary School
- Kimberley Looper, Corkran Middle School
- Michelle Magee, Overlook Elementary School*
- Stephanie Marrone, George T. Cromwell Elementary School
- Hannah Martin, Old Mill Middle School North
- Lacy McDaniel, Center of Applied Technology South
- Marissa Miller-Vasquez, Ruth Parker Eason School
- Jessica Moran, West Annapolis Elementary School**
- Lindsay O’Keefe, Annapolis Elementary School
- Kara O’Rourke, Four Seasons Elementary School
- Robert Palmer, Center of Applied Technology North
- Heather Pickens, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School
- Rachel Place, Southern Middle School
- Mandi Quinn, Chesapeake Bay Middle School**
- Clarelisa Rivera, Glen Burnie High School
- James Robison, Point Pleasant Elementary School
- Sheri Rosenberg, Waugh Chapel Elementary School
- Veronica Rutkauskas, Pasadena Elementary School*
- Somia Sharafeldin, North County High School*
- Amy Sheasley, Piney Orchard Elementary School**
- Mary Smilek, Severn Elementary School
- Katelyn Smith, Manor View Elementary School
- Krystle Smith, Northeast Middle School
- Robin Smith, Maryland City Elementary School
- Lauren Snyder, Hillsmere Elementary School
- Kelly Shipley Spence, Jessup Elementary School
- Kelly M. Spadaro, Nantucket Elementary School*
- Katherine Stanton-Pawlikowski, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie*
- Magdalena Stanulescu, Severn River Middle School
- Sandra Thomas, Chesapeake Science Point Middle/High
- Brian Vandegrift, Marley Middle School
- Angela L. Vogt, Wiley H. Bates Middle School
- Chris Wallace, Rippling Woods Elementary School
- Michelle Watts, Belle Grove Elementary School
- Liz Welsh, Broadneck Elementary School*
- Meghan Welsh, Broadneck High School**
- Cassidy Wilson, Chesapeake Science Point Elementary
- Alicia Winarski, Windsor Farm Elementary School
- Kellsie Wolcott-Guy, Hilltop Elementary School
The following Principal of the Year finalists were also recognized:
- Jessica Alvear, Ridgeway Elementary School
- Cheryl Ann Cox, Walter S. Mills-Parole Elementary School
- Ryan Durr, Meade High School
- Jed Kling, Windsor Farm Elementary School
