WESTOVER — Eight of Somerset County’s nine public schools have announced their Teacher of the Year nominees in hopes he or she will be chosen Somerset County Teacher of the Year for 2022.

The new Teacher of the Year will be named April 8 following a banquet at Somerset County Technical High School, and succeed 2021 Teacher of the Year J. Logan Webster, who at the time of his selection was a social studies and government teacher at Crisfield Academy and High School. He is now a vice principal at Somerset Intermediate School.

This year representing CAHS is Vestina Davis, a social studies teacher. Also in Crisfield, Jennifer Carey, a first grade teacher, is the candidate nominated by Woodson Elementary School.

Tania Cunningham- Raycrow, a special education teacher, represents Somerset Intermediate School. At Somerset County Technical High School, the top teacher is automotive instructor John “Buddy” Ward.

At Princess Anne Elementary the Teacher of the Year is kindergarten teacher Taylar Mowrey. At Green wood Elementary it’s second grade teacher Nicole Biser, and at Washington Academy and High School it’s special education teacher Valerie Bradshaw.

Representing Deal Island Elementary is Casey Neves, a special education teacher. An external panel of judges will evaluate the teachers for the next level of the competition which includes a written essay and interview.

An elementary and secondary Teacher of the Year will named before the countywide winner is announced, and that person will represent Somerset County at the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition this fall. Since its inception 35 years ago, SCPS has celebrated the tradition of selecting and honoring exceptional teachers from each school through the Teacher of the Year program.

Two have been named Maryland Teachers of the Year — April Todd in 2007 representing SIS and now working in Wicomico County, and Dr. Richard Warren in 2018 representing CAHS. He now works at his alma mater, UMES. Maryland finalists since 1987 have included Pat Somers in 1988, Christy Scott in 1993, the late Karen Linamen in 2003, Pamela South in 2005, Sharon Richards in 2008, Heather McHenry in 2009, and Anna Breland in 2014. The last two at the time of their recognition and today both teach at CAHS.