teacher speaking to students in a classroom

Teacher of the Year

Each year, City Schools celebrates its great teachers with the Teacher of the Year award. Through a competitive process that includes applications, essays, and recommendations followed by interviews and classroom observations of the finalists, the candidate pool is narrowed until the winner is announced by the CEO in a surprise classroom visit.

Nominate a Teacher today!

Nominate your outstanding teacher by FEBRUARY 9, 2024!

It is time to celebrate and recognize exceptional educators working in our schools! Please nominate your teacher candidate who meets the requirements outlined below:

  • Has completed a minimum of (6) years teaching experience by June 2023

  • Is currently a full-time classroom, resource, or media teacher who spends the majority of their time teaching

  • Demonstrated leadership

  • Plans to remain in the classroom for the 2024-2025 school year

  • Serves as a role model in his/her school and community

  • Embodies strong communication skills (oral and written)

  • Rating of "effective" or "highly effective" for the past three evaluations

Nominated teachers will be contacted and invited to apply for City Schools Teacher of the Year. The winner of the 2024 City Schools Teacher of the Year Award will compete for the honor of the 2024 Maryland State Teacher of the Year.  Additionally, we will celebrate the top 10 nominees at the year's end. 

It only takes a few minutes! Nominations are due February 9:

Click https://survey.k12insight.com/r/teacheroftheyear2024 or scan the QR code below to nominate a teacher.

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Jared Perry

2023 Teacher of the Year

Jared Perry
Booker T. Washington Middle School

Grade 6 –8 Instrumental Music

Jared Perry began his matriculation at Morgan State University earning an Instrumental Music degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching. He is proud to be serving the historic Booker T. Washington Middle School for the Arts and the surrounding community as the Band Director and Arts Team Lead. In addition, he works closely with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKids program where he is a Brass Teaching Artist, Ensemble Director of the brass band, has led various ensembles, mentored teachers, and more as he is serving additional students across multiple schools throughout the district and outside of the state. For the past 6 years, students from UMBC have been visiting his classroom to observe him teach to help guide them as future educators. He attributes his positive influence as an educator to God, his wife (Danielle), family, friends, colleagues, and the wonderful students and parents that he has met and been blessed by over the years. 

Quote: “Which is bigger, the rearview mirror or the windshield? Keep looking and moving forward. Know where you've come from, but keep looking and moving forward.”

 – Darnell Perry, My father

Berol Dewdney

2022 Teacher of the year

Sydney Thomas

2021 Teacher of the year

Wyatt Oroke

2020 Teacher of the year

Kyair Butts

2019 Teacher of the year