By Caitlyn Freeman
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
A Baltimore County Public Schools social studies teacher, Brianna Ross, was named the Maryland 2021-22 Teacher of the Year last week.
Ross, a sixth-grade teacher who serves as the social studies department chair, equity liaison and summer transition program coordinator at Deer Park Middle Magnet School, was one of eight finalists selected by the Maryland State Department of Education. A 7-year teaching veteran, she’s been with the county since 2015 and Deer Park since 2018.
She said she was shocked when she heard the news of her win as she was watching the live announcement on Maryland Public Television with her parents and best friend.
“I was very emotional, and I just kept saying like ‘I can’t believe they chose me. I can’t believe they chose me,’” Ross said. “This was not something that I was working towards, it wasn’t on my radar. So, I think to get to this point I really was very genuinely shocked that they chose me.”
Growing up in schools with a majority white population as a Black child, Ross said her motivation to become an educator came from her experience of having a Black kindergarten teacher. She added that her desire to teach in the west side of the county stems from wanting to teach students who look like her.
“It is really incredible especially because a very good friend of mine said this to me the other day and it like brought tears to my eyes and I thought about it a lot that the little girl with me who sat in classrooms like of all white students could have never imagined this moment,” Ross said.
Further, she said she hopes her win represents what it means to teach in the west side since there’s hesitation to teach at schools like hers and Black students in general.
“So, to be a representative like as the best teacher in the state and teaching here like that means everything to me and especially because of what it tells my students,” Ross said. “I think this for me it’s really about what this says to my students about the kinds of quality education that they deserve.”
Deer Park Principal Kandice Taylor praised Ross and committed to continued support for her.
“Deer Park Middle Magnet School is honored and proud of Ms. Ross. She is a dynamic teacher, a true leader, and an extraordinary person,” Tayler said in a press release. “Our school community benefits daily from her engagement and interactions with all stakeholders .We will cheer and support her efforts in sharing her equity platform with the state as well as her continued work with our school community and Baltimore County Public Schools.”
Ross will go on to compete for the National Teacher of the Year honors. The honor was last won by a BCPS educator in 2014 with Sean McComb.
According to MSDE officials, the state title comes with cash and other prizes. Ross will also serve as representative in Maryland and visit other localities. She will also be able to partake in national programs as well with other winners from around the country.
Her nomination garnered praise from several state and local officials.
“She represents not only the best of Baltimore County’s teachers but the best of Maryland’s educators, and we are all so proud of her,” BCPS Superintendent Darryl L. Williams said in a press release. “She epitomizes what it means to be a talented teacher, a dedicated professional, a lifelong learner, and a caring and compassionate counselor and friend to students everywhere.”
Similarly, State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury and Gov. Larry Hogan commended Ross as well.
“We are grateful to [Ross] for her contributions to her classroom, community, and education in our state and congratulate her on the tremendous recognition of being named the 2021-2022 Maryland Teacher of the Year,” Hogan said in a press release.