Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced its four finalists for Teacher of the Year Award. They are: Janie Earle, kindergarten teacher at Poolesville Elementary School; Carrie Kraynak, English Language Development teacher at Flower Hill Elementary School; Morgan Patel, social studies teacher at Montgomery Blair High School; and Melissa Porter Parks, English Language Development teacher at Gaithersburg High School.
The Teacher of the Year Award honors a full-time kindergarten through Grade 12 teacher with at least six years or more of teaching experience, including three or more in MCPS. Nominations were submitted by staff, students, former students, parents, administrators and the community. A committee of MCPS administrators reviews the nominations and recommends finalists. The selection committee may observe the candidates in the classroom and interview the candidates prior to the selection of the finalists.
The winner will be announced at an awards celebration on May 1 and will go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year.
The awards celebration will also honor other MCPS employees and partners for their extraordinary work. Learn about the awards on the MCPS website here.
2024-2025 MCPS Teacher of the Year Finalists
Janie Earle is a kindergarten teacher and team leader at Poolesville Elementary School. She is in her eighth year of teaching. She tailors her teaching methods to accommodate students’ diverse learning styles and abilities, and instills in them confidence to take on challenges.
Parent Yelege Amere wrote, “Her commitment to fostering a culture of high academic expectations is truly commendable and contributes significantly to the success of the kindergarten program at Poolesville Elementary School.”
Carrie Kraynak is an English Language Development teacher and team leader at Flower Hill Elementary School. Nationally Board Certified, Kraynak implemented a targeted reading program for first grade students. She uses a range of strategies to support students’ language development and academic growth, which creates a supportive environment and enhances comprehension and language acquisition.
Colleague Shannon Medina wrote, “Students are excited to work with her each and every day, and they are so proud to show her how much they are learning. She goes above and beyond to support fellow staff members, and is a friend to all.”
Morgan Patel has taught social studies at Montgomery Blair High School for 11 years. A Nationally Certified Board teacher, Patel has taught numerous Advanced Placement courses. She introduced the AP Human Geography course at Blair in 2014 and presented the benefits of taking AP classes to student groups, including the Minority Scholars Program. The course has become one of the popular electives Blair offers and 55 percent of her more than 160 students are minorities.
Resource teacher Rebecca Hughes wrote, “Every time I have observed Ms. Patel, I am proud of the diversity of her class, the success of her students, and the deep commitment she has to being a safe space for all high schoolers.”
Melissa Porter Parks is the English Language Development (ELD) resource teacher at Gaithersburg High School, the largest ELD department in MCPS. She oversees more than 800 Emerging Multilingual Learners (EMLs), including students who have experienced interrupted education. Porter Parks grew up in poverty, received free and reduced price lunches, and worked several jobs while attending high school. She graduated with a 4.0 grade point average, and is a first-generation college graduate. She works diligently for and with her students from their first day of school through graduation, regardless of their backgrounds.
A team of ELD teachers and paraeducators wrote, “Melissa truly understands the big picture of how her guidance provides a comfortable space for teachers to develop and thrive. This thoughtful leadership is critical in creating a strong department able to provide an exemplary high school experience for our GHS multilingual learners.”
