Erica McAndrew, a first grade teacher at Spring Garden Elementary School, was named the Carroll County 2022 Teacher of the Year during the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.
McAndrew earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and a Master of Science in 2013, both from McDaniel College. She received certification as an Elementary Math Leader in 2013 and STEM Leader in 2015.
McAndrew has a total of 27 years of teaching experience. She began teaching in 1994 at Spring Garden Elementary School, where she has taught for her entire career and experienced all grade levels and served as a school-based math resource teacher.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, McAndrew has served the students at Spring Garden in many other capacities. She has served as a summer recovery substitute, virtual/in-person tutor, second grade team leader, Kid Talk representative, and math camp director. She also has been a member of the PBIS/Character Committee, Math Committee, and Technology Committee. She currently is leading the school’s Green Team efforts to become recertified as a Maryland Green School.
McAndrew has been actively involved in curriculum writing and training for Carroll County Public Schools and has had multiple opportunities to work on county-wide initiatives. She has shared her expertise in STEM as an inservice leader, new teacher trainer, virtual writer, curriculum writer, and workshop leader. She has served as a high school student mentor and also mentored a student teacher from McDaniel College during the last school year.
Outside of the classroom, McAndrew is active in 4-H and is a past recipient of the Volunteer of the Year and Family of the Year Awards, as well as the Heart Award and the I Dare You Award. She also is the president of the non-profit organization Peace Love Dolls, which collects and refurbishes dolls to be donated to children in need.
McAndrew’s community experiences have been invaluable to staff, students, and families. She is familiar with many families who have had multiple generations coming through the school, as well as the community resources available to support families. According to Wendy Leishear, principal of Spring Garden Elementary School, “Mrs. McAndrew will stop at nothing to ensure students and their families have what they need to know they are safe and well cared for, clothing, food, school supplies, and academic as well as social emotional requirements. Families know they are cared for and that their children are supported.”
“When I think about my greatest accomplishment and contribution, they go hand in hand,” McAndrew said. “It is the students I have taught and the connections in the community I have made. Helping to create lifelong learners is the best legacy that I can leave behind.”
The Carroll County Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual who represents Carroll County teachers in the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program, and possibly the National Teacher of the Year Program. Working in collaboration with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, this year’s finalists for Teacher of the Year were selected by the Chamber of Commerce as winners of the Chamber’s Outstanding Teacher Awards.
Congratulations to our new Carroll County Teacher of the Year – Erica McAndrew, first grade teacher at Spring Garden Elementary School. Read more about Erica at https://t.co/RONasPktvc. pic.twitter.com/o1G2ehp5Gw
— Carroll County PS (@CCPSk12) May 11, 2022
