OCEAN CITY – Local educators crowned Snow Hill Middle School’s Cassidy Hamborsky as Worcester County’s top teacher at last Friday’s 2015 Teacher of the Year banquet.
The announcement that Hamborsky was the 2015 Teacher of the Year was greeted with a standing ovation from a ballroom full of teachers and local dignitaries at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel on March 27. She is currently an English Language Arts teacher at Snow Hill Middle.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to represent Worcester County,” Hamborsky said.
As Teacher of the Year, Hamborsky, who was selected from 14 nominees, will join the winners from each of Maryland’s other counties to compete for the state title. She was selected as Teacher of the Year by a panel of retired teachers and college professors after submitting a portfolio and being interviewed.
“I’m looking forward to the experience and professional growth over the next year,” Hamborsky said.
The Salisbury University graduate is in her ninth year of teaching at Snow Hill Middle, where she is also a mentor and a member of the School Improvement Team.
“Cassidy’s an exceptional teacher,” said Chris Welch, principal of Snow Hill Middle.
At Friday’s banquet, Bob Rothermel, president of Worcester County’s board of education, thanked Hamborsky and all of Worcester County’s Teacher of the Year nominees for their work in the classroom.
“Each candidate represents the best of the best,” he said. “We’re proud of each and every one of you.”
Brenna Johnson, Worcester County’s 2014 Teacher of the Year, used her opportunity as keynote speaker to remind the crowd of her peers why teaching was such an important profession and why it was vital they focus on innovation in the classroom.
“We need to find our passion again,” she said. “If we are not excited, they will not be either.”
Innovation, the theme of the evening, was also addressed by Superintendent of Schools Jerry Wilson. He said that in an ever-progressing world, doing the same thing over and over again would lead to decline. It was only innovation, he said, that led to progress.
“Tonight it’s our honor to recognize some of our most innovative and inspiring teachers,” he said. “Our teachers are courageous, bold and constantly looking for ways to meet the needs of our students.”
Wilson also took a moment to recognize Barb Witherow, the school system’s retiring coordinator of public relations and special programs. Witherow has put together the Teacher of the Year program since 2003.
“We appreciate the efforts you’ve made to give our teachers a special night,” Wilson said.