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 Desire Witt, Allegany High School
Desiree Witt holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and a Master's Degree in Dance from Frostburg State University. She has been a vocal music instructor in Allegany County for 16 years. Currently at Allegany High School she directs the Concert Choir, Show Choir, Chamber Choir, and Drama Club. She previously taught elementary music in Ann Arundel County. Desiree is on the faculty at FSU in the music and dance departments and is the current co-director for the FSU Dance Company. She is also on the dance faculty of the Morgantown Dance Studio in West Virginia, for which she has set choreography.
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 Shannon Pennington, Cash Valley Elementary School
Shannon Pennington graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and then earned her Master of Science Degree in Education from Simmons College in Boston, MA. Her first teaching experience was in a non-public school for children with autism in Southborough, MA. She then moved to Southern California and taught in another non-public placement for students ages 12-22 with severe emotional and behavioral challenges. She continued to teach in California for four more years, working with elementary students with autism, before returning to Allegany County and accepting the position in the K-1 Autism Spectrum Disorder classroom.
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 Brian McKinley, Fort Hill High School
Brian McKinley has been teaching in Allegany County since 2000. He started his teaching career at Mount Savage, teaching remedial math. He was semi-successful that year, having 18 out of 23 students pass the Maryland Functional Math Test. The following year, he was given a math position at Fort Hill High School. During the last 7 years, he has taught almost every course in the math curriculum and has served as the Algebra I math teacher. He has taught Algebra I for 5 years and has maintained a 77% passing rate with a high of 95% passing.
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 Amy Derezinski, Northeast Elementary School
Amy Derezinski teaches Physical Education at Northeast and Parkside Elementary Schools, serving over 600 students in Allegany County. She earned her Master's Degree from New York University and taught for the New York City Department of Education from 2001-2007. During this time, she co-authored a physical education curriculum guide and two children's books. In addition to her regular curriculum, Amy teaches in the After-School Program and co-directs the Frostburg State University Dance Company.
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 Judy Carter, Mt. Savage Elementary School
Judy Carter teaches second grade at Mt. Savage Elementary School. She is currently in her 21st year of teaching in Allegany County. She received both her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Frostburg State University. She has served as a member of the School Improvement Team for 8 years, serving as co-chair for the past 3 years. She has worked on committees to revise the health curriculum and to develop the math pacing guide and benchmarks. She is currently a mentor to a new teacher.
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 Nancy McGowan, George's Creek Elementary School
Nancy McGowan has been a teacher for 31 years, 21 of which have been in the first grade. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Education Degree from Frostburg State University. She has been the School Improvement Team Chair, Climate Chair, Teacher in Charge, curriculum writer, and a presenter for staff development in the county. She was chosen as the Teacher of the Year at George's Creek Elementary School for the 1998-1999 school year as well. She is presently teaching first grade at George's Creek Elementary School.
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 Laurie Ferguson, Bel Air Elementary School
Laurie Ferguson has been an educator for 21 years. During her career she has taught in inner city Baltimore, Children's National Medical Center, New Dominion School, and various schools in Allegany County. Recognizing students' accomplishments and providing the tools that students need to help them reach their goals is an essential component to her teaching. Setting high academic goals and providing opportunities for students to help out their community and each other contribute to the success of her students.
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 Debra Alkire McElvie, Cresaptown Elementary School
Debra Alkire McElvie, a graduate of Frostburg State University, has been a Maryland teacher for 28 years. Currently, she teaches kindergarten at Cresaptown Elementary School, the first Blue Ribbon School named in Allegany County. Debra is a 9 year member of the School Improvement Team and serves on the Instructional Consultation Team. She is a member of the Positive Behavior Intervention System and has worked with her team to achieve exemplary status at Cresaptown for three consecutive years. Debra was also a member of the school's review team, which assisted Frostburg State University during their 2007 National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Evaluation.
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 Trina McGregor, Washington Middle School
Trina McGregor has taught in Allegany County for 12 years, teaching algebra and eighth grade math at Washington Middle School, where she currently serves as the math improvement specialist. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Administration and Supervision from Frostburg State University. Trina serves on the School Improvement Team, Family Violence and Emergency Planning Committee. She serves on the county's Professional Development Committee. She has taught Praxis training through FSU and community employment training for Westvaco through ACM. She has worked with Maryland Public Television and John's Hopkins Technological Research Team creating and implementing gaming and current technology into the classroom.
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 Michelle Saville, Beall Elementary School
Michelle Saville is a kingergarten teacher at Beall Elementary School where she has taught for the last 8 years. She earned her Master of Science Degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University. She is the co-chair of the Climate Action Team and Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies Team, as well as a member of the School Improvement Team and the Emergency Team. In addition, she serves as the Allegany County Teachers' Association building representative and is on the Allegany County Teachers' Association's Board of Directors. In addition to serving on committees, she worked to develop the current kindergarten report card, as well as to revise for the science and social studies kindergarten curriculum. She is an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma and a participant in professional development.
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 Brenda Blackburn, Career Center
Brenda Blackburn began her career as the health occupations instructor at the Center for Career and Technology Education in 2001. Brenda takes her role as a teacher very seriously. She continually strives to improve her teaching strategies because she realizes the benefits this has for the students. She feels that it is her responsibility to prepare students, both academically and professionally, for entry into a rewarding career in health care. Therefore, developing good work ethics is an integral part of her curriculum.
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 Alice Hovatter, Frost Elementary School
Alice Hovatter earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Frostburg State University. Alice has taught at Flintstone and South Penn Elementary Schools and currently teaches fifth grade at Frost Elementary School. She serves on Frost's School Improvement Team and is the chair of the School Achievement Team.
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 Constance Blank, Parkside Elementary School
In her 35 and a half years of teaching in the Allegany County Public School System, Constance Blank has received excellent evaluations and notes of commendations from her principals and supervisors. In addtion, she has been asked numerous times to mentor imcoming first year teachers. She was Teacher-in-Charge for three different principals due to her leadership abilities and dedication to the teaching profession. During her teaching career, she has chaired the Student Achievement Team for 6 years and co-chaired the Climate Action Team. In addtion, during the 2004-2005 school year she became acting principal at her school.
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 Jennifer Ritchie, Mt. Savage Middle School
Jennifer Ritchie is a certified special educator in grades six through eight at Mt. Savage Middle School. Jennifer began her teaching career in the Baltimore City Public School System 12 years ago. She has teaching experience in grades four through eight. Jennifer is a School Improvement Team member, Partnership Action Team Chair, Strategic Instructional Model Coach, and National Board Certified teacher in reading and language arts. She provides staff development on SIM strategies to middle school staff county-wide. She serves on MSDE committees for MSA related activities. Jennifer works closely with her reading colleagues to provide students with literacy opportunities.
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 Shelly Watson, John Humbird Elementary School
Shelly Watson is currently a media specialist at John Humbird Elementary School. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education K-8 fromWest Virginia University in 1993. She continued her education, earning her certification in Library Science and Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Frostburg State University. She started her career in Jacksonville, FL, teaching first grade. At John Humbird, Shelly has acted as the School Improvement Team Chair, Climate Action Team Chair, Technology Coordinator, AEP teacher, Accelerated Reader Chair, and Yearbook Coordinator.
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 Sheila Greise, Braddock Middle School
Sheila Greise is an eighth grade teacher at Braddock Middle School, teaching algebra and pre-algebra. She has been a teacher for 8 years. Currently, she serves as the School Improvement Team Chair. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education from Frostburg State University in 1993 and a Master's Degree in Administration and Supervision in 2008. Her goals include helping her students realize and live up to their potential in mathematics, preparing her students for higher-level math classes, and creating a positive, value-rich learning environment.
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 Beth Chapman, Flintstone Elementary School
Beth Chapman has taught fifth grade at Flintstone Elementary School for 7 years. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Frostburg State University in 1994. She earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Frostburg State University in 2001. She currently serves as chairperson of the School Achievement Team and also participates with the School Improvement Team. She has been honored twice in Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
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 Sarah Kalbaugh, West Side Elementary School
Sarah Kalbaugh is a third grade teacher at West Side Elementary School. She has been teaching for 5 years and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Reading from Frostburg State University. Sarah has served on the School Improvement Team, Student Achievement Team, Climate Action Team, Math Committees, and Social Studies Committees. She currently teaches at a Reading First school. She actively participates in Reading First training and most recently attended the National Reading First Conference in St. Louis, MO.
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 Todd Vogtman, Westernport Elementary School
Todd Vogtman has been teaching for 10 years and is currently instructing a fifth grade classroom at Westernport Elementary School. Todd believes that motivation is one of the most important factors in the teaching profession. He has a unique enthusiastic teaching style that utilizes music to enhance the state curriculum. Todd enjoys developing new, out-of-the-ordinary methods that can reach students.
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Michaela Linn, Mountain Ride High School- Allegany County Teacher of the Year 2008-2009