Today Wicomico Teacher of the Year Emma Cohn Matthews is teaching at Wicomico High School. Tomorrow she will be at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Hunt Valley as one of seven finalists with the chance to hear their name announced as the next Maryland Teacher of the Year. That announcement will come at the end of the Maryland Teacher of the Year Gala the evening of Friday, Sept. 26.
Wicomico High, Wicomico County Public Schools, the Wicomico County Board of Education and our community are rooting for Mrs. Cohn Matthews! In the months since being named 2025-2026 Wicomico Teacher of the Year, she has already been an excellent representative of Wicomico’s teachers, and Friday night is a chance for the state to appreciate our local star.
Mrs. Cohn Matthews is impressive even in the brief biography for Wicomico Teacher of the Year:
Wicomico County Public Schools – Emma Cohn Matthews, Wicomico High School
Emma Cohn Matthews, 2025-2026 Wicomico Teacher of the Year, earned her B.A. in English Secondary Education (2018) and M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction (2023) from Salisbury University, where she is an adjunct professor. She is pursuing a Doctorate in Literacy Studies at SU and is completing National Board Certification. While teaching ESOL and English, she leads as Wicomico High’s PBIS chair, English and World Language department chair, Gender and Sexuality Alliance advisor, after-school tutor, and mentor to pre-service teacher candidates. Her research in curriculum reform supports her continued advocacy for equity, inclusion, and student-centered learning environments.
Olivia Stokes, now a 2025 Wicomico High graduate, shared these words of appreciation last spring in a letter of recommendation for her teacher in the state Teacher of the Year packet: “Having her in my life has been an absolute blessing and a breath of fresh air. I know that if I ever needed her in any situation, she would do anything for me as well as for any of her students. Mrs. Cohn Matthews does so much for both our school and the students here at Wicomico High School. If it were not for her and her efforts to be in my life, I would not be the student that I am today.”
Wicomico High Principal Dr. Undrea Blake shared these insights: “Mrs. Emma Cohn Matthews is an invaluable asset to our school. Her dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts have significantly enhanced the lives of our students and enriched our educational programs. She embodies the qualities of an exceptional educator and leader, consistently demonstrating profound contributions to the field of education.”
Maryland Teacher of the Year Recognition Program
There are 24 local teachers of the year from school systems throughout the state. From among those teachers, a panel of leaders from key Maryland educational organizations representing principals, teachers, school boards, labor partners and families reviewed the 24 Maryland Teacher of the Year application packets to determine finalists. The teachers were evaluated against rigorous criteria that included student achievement, teaching philosophy, academic results, community involvement, and knowledge of educational issues.
The Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland State Board of Education announced seven finalists in early September, and each was interviewed last Saturday by a broad-based panel at MSDE headquarters in Baltimore. The finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year are:
Emma Cohn Matthews, Wicomico County Public Schools
Phillip Cropper, Worcester County Public Schools
Marcie Mamas, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools
Jacqueline Sanderson, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Jevons Liu, Baltimore City Public Schools
ALonna Soward-Puryear, Frederick County Public Schools
Natalie Pretzello, Howard County Public School System
“Each of our finalists represents the very best of Maryland educators,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. “Their dedication, creativity, and leadership are shaping the future of our students and communities. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding educators and thank them for their commitment to excellence in education.”
