A hearty congratulations to Chef Phillip Cropper of Worcester Technical High School, who was just named the 2025 Worcester County Teacher of the Year! #WeAreWorcester #WCPSTOY2025
We are halfway through the 2025 Worcester County Teacher of the Year Celebration, and the following finalists have been named for the title:
Phillip Cropper, Worcester Technical High School
Shelby Matassa, Snow Hill Elementary School
Alison Semanchik, Buckingham Elementary School
Gretchen Wallace, Pocomoke High School
Keep an eye on our social media as we proudly announce the next Worcester County Teacher of the Year later this evening! #WeAreWorcester #WCPSTOY2025
Meet Gretchen Wallace, Pocomoke High School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration tonight.
Gretchen Wallace, a Business Education Teacher with thirteen years of experience, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Salisbury University and a Master's degree from the University of Alabama. A passionate champion for all students, she prioritizes positive student mental health and provides a safe learning environment that focuses on building strong, constructive student relationships. She serves as FBLA Advisor, State Champion Field Hockey Coach, Department Chair, New Teacher Mentor, and SIP Safety Team and Equity Team member. Focused on professional skills development, she has led students to national competitions and has implemented transformative programs like The Amazing Shake.
Meet Patricia Solomon, Cedar Chapel Special School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration tonight.
Patricia Solomon, a dedicated special education teacher at Cedar Chapel Special School, is committed to empowering students with diverse abilities to reach their full potential. With over a decade of experience, she excels in creating an inclusive, engaging learning environments tailored to each student’s individual needs. Tricia holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Restaurant Management from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a Master’s in Special Education, with a focus on Autism and Severe Disabilities, from Wilmington University. An advocate of collaboration, she works closely with families and colleagues to foster academic, social, and emotional growth for her students.
Tonight's the night! The WCPS Fine Arts Festival is in full swing at Snow Hill HS with beautiful artwork and amazing performances from our students of all ages! #ArtsAliveInWorcester #WeAreWorcester
Meet Heather Shockley, Snow Hill Middle School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 16.
Heather Shockley received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Salisbury University and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She has been engaging the minds of students through the visual arts for seventeen years, eight of them at Snow Hill Middle School. Shockley has served as team leader, the yearbook advisor, and is a teacher for after school academies. As the SHMS chapter coordinator of the National Junior Art Honor Society, her goal is to continue to build opportunities that create bridges between the community and our school through visual art.
Meet Alison Semanchik, Buckingham Elementary School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 16.
Alison (Ali) Semanchik eared her degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from Lebanon Valley College and is pursuing a master’s in Reading at Salisbury University. Now in her eighth year of teaching and fourth as a PreK-4 teacher at Buckingham, Ali is dedicated to fostering relationships and ensuring all children have access to learning, especially through play-based learning methods She finds joy in creating engaging learning experiences. Ali mentors university interns, assists students as an ASA teacher, and serves on the WCPS Play-Based Learning Cohort, BES PBIS Team, EXCELL Vocabulary Cohort, Conscious Discipline team, and Apple Vanguard Cohort.
Dr. John Wesley Wright is a nationally and internationally acclaimed tenor and professor of voice at Salisbury University. He will be our high school All-County Choir Guest Conductor at the Fine Arts Festival! Come see him and our amazing student performers at SHHS tonight!
Today is the day!!!!!
Please come out tonight to the Fine Arts Festival and All-County Concerts!
Our students and teachers are so creative and talented.
Snow Hill High School - 5:00-8:00pm (art show ends at 7:30)
Meet Belinda Sawyer, Stephen Decatur High School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 16.
Belinda Sawyer has taught Spanish at SDHS for 22 years, with 28 years overall as an educator. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Master’s Degrees from the University of Alabama and Salisbury University, and served as a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico in 2008. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s certificate in Applied Spanish from the University of Indianapolis. Señora Sawyer loves teaching Spanish because bilingualism opens a new world for students and allows them to make important cultural connections. Señora Sawyer also serves as the advisor for the Academic Team and Spanish Honor Society.
Meet Stacey Phillips, Ocean City Elementary School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 16.
Stacey Phillips earned a bachelor's degree in Art from Salisbury University. She is in her thirtieth year of teaching, having taught in Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester counties in both public and private school settings. For the last five years she has taught Art at Ocean City and Showell Elementary schools. Phillips believes that giving students a rich and varied experience in the Arts encourages creativity, confidence, and resilience. She strives to highlight connections between the Arts, other content areas and the community while challenging students to “Observe, Imagine and Create!” Phillips takes part in after school academies and Summer Arts Week along with creating sets and costumes for school performances and parades.
Wishing all students, families, and staff at Worcester County Public Schools a peaceful and joyful Passover! May this time be filled with love, reflection, and community. 🕊️ #HappyPassover #WeAreWorcester
Celebrate National Assistant Principals Week with us as we recognize the incredible dedication of our APs! A heartfelt thank you to Leah James at Snow Hill Elementary School for her unwavering support of our students and staff. Your hard work and commitment make a difference every day! #APweek25
Thank you to Pocomoke Middle and Snow Hill Middle for hosting Cecil County's Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics, Dr. Keisha Brinkley, and I today! We loved seeing WCPS mathematicians engaged in Menu Math. Shout out to the teachers for their deliberate planning, differentiation, and targeted small group instruction, and to the students for their perseverance, math discourse, and hard work!
Meet Ashley Mertz, Pocomoke Middle School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 16.
Ashley Mertz holds a B.A in History/Secondary Education and an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from Salisbury University. Now in her fourteenth year of teaching, she serves as a seventh grade Special Education teacher, after starting her career as a history teacher. Ashley champions inclusivity, positive relationships, and empathy to foster strong connections and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities and the support needed for success. She contributes to her school community as a School Improvement Team member, mentor to new teachers, Special Education Chair, and administrative intern in the Grow Your Own program.
Celebrate National Assistant Principals Week with us as we recognize the incredible dedication of our APs! A heartfelt thank you to Matt Hoffman at Pocomoke Elementary School for his unwavering support of our students and staff. Your hard work and commitment make a difference every day! #APweek25
Meet Shelby Matassa, Snow Hill Elementary School's Teacher of the Year, who we'll be celebrating at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration on April 16.
Shelby Matassa earned dual B.S. degrees in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Salisbury University and earned a M.E.D. in Educational Leadership from Wilmington University. Matassa has taught kindergarten in Worcester County for the last seven years. Currently in her third year at Snow Hill Elementary School, she utilizes Conscious Discipline practices to empower and challenge children to rise to their highest potential. Matassa shares her passion for teaching by serving on several committees and as a mentor to university interns. She believes all children deserve a place to learn and grow that embraces the magic of early childhood.
Celebrate National Assistant Principals Week with us as we recognize the incredible dedication of our APs! A heartfelt thank you to Marcus Shipley at Showell Elementary School for his unwavering support of our students and staff. Your hard work and commitment make a difference every day! #APWeek25
Our SDMS students and several schools partnered with Jesse Klump Memorial Foundation to create an artistic river of kindness to create more awareness about youth mental health. Thank you to the Town of Berlin for letting us install it at Stephen Decatur Park. We appreciate Senator Carozza and BOE member Elena McComas for joining us at the installation celebration! Thanks Mrs. Ouellet and Ms. McDaniel for your leadership!
Celebrate National Assistant Principals Week with us as we recognize the incredible dedication of our APs! A heartfelt thank you to Jane Chisholm at Ocean City Elementary School for her unwavering support of our students and staff. Your hard work and commitment make a difference every day! #APWeek
