Hagerstown, MD - (September 3, 2021) Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is proud to announce Caroline Schlegel, a Spanish teacher at Smithsburg High School, has been selected as a finalist for the Maryland Teacher of the Year award. The 2021-2022 Washington County Teacher of the Year is the fifth consecutive state finalist for WCPS. 

“WCPS is incredibly fortunate to have another one of our educators recognized as a top teacher in the state for a fifth year in a row,”  says Dr. Michael, superintendent of schools. “Caroline is an exceptional role model to both her students and her fellow educators in Washington County. We are so excited to see her move forward to the State level representing all of our teachers at WCPS.”

A panel of judges from key educational organizations that represent principals, teachers, school boards, parents, and institutions of higher education selected from teachers representing each of Maryland’s 24 local school systems. The eight finalists were chosen based on a rigorous set of state and national criteria including: teaching philosophy and results, community involvement, knowledge of general education issues, and desire for professional and instructional improvement.

Caroline has 15 years of experience in the classroom, and the 2021-2022 school year marks her sixth year of teaching at WCPS. She began her career in Washington County at Western Heights Middle School before moving to Smithsburg High. Caroline is the 2019 Maryland World Language Teacher of the Year, and she recently earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy, an international award that certifies working proficiency in two or more languages. Caroline has presented professional development for over 10 years at the local, state, and national level. She graduated from Salisbury University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Secondary Education and in 2016 received her Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the same institution. 

The 2022 Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced on Maryland Public Television on Thursday, October 7, 2021 in a 30-minute special program airing at 8:00 p.m. on MPT2 and in a livestream on MPT’s Youtube channel, MarylandPublicTV. Prior winners have received cash awards, technology equipment, national travel opportunities, and a new car.