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2022 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Olivia Tyndall
Olivia Tyndall is a Worcester County native who graduated from Stephen Decatur High School. She attended Salisbury University and obtained a
Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Applied Technology in Education from Wilmington University. Currently, in
her third-year teaching in Worcester County, she strives to help middle school students develop a love for math. She teaches both Math 7 and
Compacted Math and is a member of her School Improvement Team. She holds students to high expectations daily through engaging lessons that
incorporate technology. She loves to see the "ah-ha" moment for students when problem-solving.
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2021 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Cara Kurtz - High Roads
Cara is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has her BS in Early Childhood Education from California University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Reading Specialty from Salisbury University. She has been teaching since 2007. In her spare time, Mrs. Kurtz enjoys reading, running, and shopping. She loves to spend time with her family and her dog.
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2020 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Jerri Matingly-Freeman, World Language Teacher
Jerri has her Master's Degree in Secondary Education from Salisbury University and a Bachelor's degree in Spanish from the College of Charleston. She has been teaching since 2010, but began teaching at SHMS in 2014. When she is not teaching, Jerri and her husband enjoy taking their children, Harper and Willow, to the beach and playground.
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2019 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Heather Shockley, Art Teacher
Heather Shockley earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Salisbury University, and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In her eleventh year of teaching visual art she inspires students, grades four through eight, at Snow Hill Middle. Art is a universal platform for all to learn and Shockley works tirelessly to build positive relationships that fosters rich discussion and creativity. She is a team leader, a member of the School Improvement team, a yearbook advisor, advisor for the National Junior Arts honor Society, and an artist.
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2018 Teacher of the Year
Ms. Emily Taylor, 5th Grade Teacher
Ms. Taylor earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Towson University and will earn her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Salisbury University in May. She has taught fifth grade at Snow Hill Middle School for the past six years. A Stephen Decatur graduate, she serves on the WCPS ELA committee, a leader for her school improvement team, new teacher mentor, and Salisbury University mentor teacher. She strives to create an environment that fosters learning through collaboration and real-world projects. Ms. Taylor believes that the foundation of a successful classroom relies on positive student relationships.
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2017 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Barbara Kohut, 4th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kohut began teaching 4th grade at SHMS in 2015. She previously taught at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Berlin for 14 years. She and her husband moved here in 1998 from New Jersey and Pennsylvania where they lived all their lives prior to moving to the beach! When asked why she loves to teach, she replied "I love teaching and most importantly love seeing the light go on when a student “gets it.” In my opinion, there isn’t anything more powerful than talking to a child, getting to know them well, and planning strategically to infuse the students’ interests to engage them in learning." She believes wholeheartedly in making learning fun. She loves to joke with students and holds each student in a very special place in her heart.
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2016 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Brittany Tignor, Library Media Specialist
Brittany Tignor has a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Studies from University of Alabama and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Secondary Education from Salisbury University. In her tenth year teaching and fourth being a Library Media Specialist, Brittany believes that inquiry, authentic tasks, and building relationships with students in a student-centered classroom will result in success for all students. She is an advocate for technology integration, Coordinator for Media Expo 2016, runs WCPS’s first Makerspace, provides technology professional development, presents webinars and at conferences, helps facilitate Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award voting, and is a member of MASL, AASL, ALA and ISTE.
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2015 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Cassidy Hamborsky, 7th grade ILA
Cassidy Hamborsky earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Education, and her Masters of Education in Reading Instruction from Salisbury University. In her ninth year at Snow Hill Middle School, Hamborsky currently teaches seventh grade English Language Arts. She believes that building positive student relationships is instrumental in successfully engaging young minds. Hamborsky strives to create an active learning environment with high expectations where students feel safe. She is a mentor teacher to university interns, a member of her School Improvement Team, a teacher for after school and summer academies, and a mentor to at-risk middle and high school students.
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2014 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Kim Stephens, 4th grade
Kimberly Stephens graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and later earned a Master’s of Education in Reading Instruction. In her ninth year of teaching elementary school students at Snow Hill Middle School, Kimberly believes that her responsibility as an educator is not only to successfully teach the grade level curriculum but to create an environment where her students feel safe, loved, and willing to take risks. She enables her students to think critically about their work and take control of their own learning. Stephens is a PBIS team member, a mentor teacher to Salisbury University interns, and a team leader.
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2013 Teacher of the Year
Beau Williams, 8th grade Social Studies
Mr. Williams graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelors of Arts in History and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. This is his 11th year of teaching at Snow Hill Middle School. He believes that fostering cooperative group work and providing students the opportunity to solve real-world problems in the classroom, allows them to develop the skills they will need to be successful citizens in the 21st century. He is a Service Learning Fellow for the state of Maryland, helps advise the Student Government Association, is a Professional Development Site cooperating teacher for interns, and is Snow Hill Middle School’s Teacher of the Year for the 2012-2013 school year.
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