Wicomico Teacher of the Year Emma Cohn Matthews– One of Seven Finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year
Wicomico Teacher of the Year Emma Cohn Matthews, who teaches at Wicomico High School, will soon be on her way to 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. 26th. 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
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.