Newark, MD, March 3, 2026– In a celebration of excellence in education, tonight Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS) announced the 2026 Worcester County Teacher of the Year: Kiersten Conway of Snow Hill High School (SHHS).
During the 39th annual Teacher of the Year celebration, Worcester County Board of Education President Todd Ferrante made the announcement following a program honoring all 14 school-level teachers of the year and their commitment to providing a high-quality education to the young people of Worcester County.
“I am incredibly proud of Kiersten and of all the outstanding educators we have recognized this evening,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Wallace. “Ms. Conway represents the very best of Worcester County Public Schools. Her commitment to building meaningful relationships with students, delivering rigorous and accessible instruction, and contributing to school and district initiatives speaks to her dedication not only to her classroom, but to our entire community. She will be an exceptional representative for our school system as she advances to the state-level program.”
A proud Worcester County graduate and mother of three, Kiersten Conway holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Salisbury University and a Master of Arts degree from The University of Phoenix. Now in her tenth year in education, including nine years with Worcester County Public Schools, she is currently in her third year teaching English 10 at Snow Hill High School. Conway believes that fostering meaningful relationships with students and delivering accessible, rigorous instruction empowers them to become critical thinkers and engaged citizens. She is an active member of her School Improvement Team and the District Literacy Committee and serves as a model of best practices for fellow educators.
“At the heart of this unit—and my teaching as a whole—is the belief that education should extend beyond the classroom. I believe my role as a teacher is to positively influence the next generation by helping students think critically, reflect deeply, and connect learning to the world around them. When students leave my classroom thinking more thoughtfully about their role in society, I know that teaching and learning have truly transcended the classroom.”
Conway was one of four finalists announced during the program, who were in the running for the prestigious title. The other outstanding finalists were Taylor Case of Showell Elementary School, Colleen Hood of Snow Hill Elementary School, and Megan Seyler of Stephen Decatur High School.
Conway was selected by a panel of judges representing experts in the field of education, community leaders, and the current reigning 2025 Worcester County Teacher of the Year. All candidates were judged based on a rigorous set of criteria in alignment with both the state- and national-level Teacher of the Year programs, which include instructional abilities, collaboration, building connections with our community, leadership and innovation both in and out of the classroom, and the ability to articulate their education beliefs and advocate for how to better this field.