All event photos may be viewed on the Caroline Flickr page
Brittany Busick, second grade teacher at Denton Elementary School has been named 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year. Amy Smith, an in-school support facilitator at Federalsburg Elementary School is the Support Employee of the Year for Caroline County Public Schools.
The announcements were made at a celebration for finalists on April 15 at Cow Barn Events in Ridgely. All teacher and support employee finalists were in attendance along with their families, co-workers, and friends.
"We're incredibly proud of both Ms. Busick and Ms. Smith,” Superintendent Dr. Derek Simmons said. “They capture the very best of the Caroline Family, and will both represent us with pride and excellence throughout the next school year.”
All five finalists for each of the categories were in attendance along with family members and colleagues. Caroline Board of Education President Michele Wayman, and members Chrissy Bartz, Stefanie Johnson and Troy Plutschak joined the festivities. Sheriff Donnie Baker also attended to show his support.
Current Teacher of the Year Andrew Buffenmyer and Support Employee of the Year Nick Marshall joined the celebration, along with former Teachers of the Year Rob Honer, Melissa McFayden, Mirta Bradner, Danielle Dennis, Lindsey McCormick, Marsha Porter and Christine Fortner.
The event was generously sponsored by the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union and catered by the Chesapeake Culinary Center. Photography services were provided by Chris Dorr, and all event photos may be viewed on the Caroline Schools Flickr page. The event presentation is accessible here.
2026-27 Teacher of the Year Brittany Busick
Ms. Busick is a second grade teacher at Denton Elementary School (DES). She began her teaching career with Caroline in 2017. Her nomination stated, “Ms. Busick is an exceptional educator who consistently places students at the center of every decision she makes. Her unwavering focus on student progress and individual needs is evident in her daily instruction, planning, and interactions with students. She thoughtfully analyzes data, adjusts instruction, and provides targeted support to ensure every learner has the opportunity to grow and succeed. Brittany demonstrates a remarkable ability to balance the demands of teaching with a healthy school-to-home balance, modeling sustainability and professionalism for colleagues. She brings intention, care, and heart to her work, creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and valued. Instructionally, Mrs. Busick is strong, reflective, and purposeful. She implements best practices with fidelity, engages students actively in learning, and maintains high expectations for both herself and her students. She is also a thoughtful advocate—willing to speak up when needed to support students, colleagues, and the school community, always doing so with respect and professionalism. Brittany Busick embodies the qualities of an outstanding educator. Her dedication, instructional expertise, and student-centered mindset make her a highly deserving candidate for Teacher of the Year.”
This year’s nominations resulted in five exceptional finalists. The judging committee reviewed and scored all nomination packets to determine the finalists, which included Krista Bennett, Special Education teacher at Federalsburg Elementary School; Tom Cheezum, Director of Bands and Orchestras at Colonel Richardson High School; James (JJ) Hester, Physical Education teacher at Ridgely Elementary School; and Nina Porter, kindergarten teacher at Preston Elementary School. Once finalists were chosen, interviews were conducted to determine the teacher of the year.
Ms. Busick will now go on to represent Caroline County in the Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of the Year program.
2026-27 Support Employee of the Year Amy Smith
Ms. Smith began her career with Caroline County Public Schools in 2022 and is the In-School Support Facilitator at Federalsburg Elementary School.
Ms. Smith’s nomination stated, "Ms. Smith understands her role and goes above and beyond to support students, families & staff, and is one of the hardest working employees here. She loves the kids and they know it. I'm happy she is moving on to be a teacher, but she will be so hard to replace. Amy is busy from the moment she steps foot in the building until the time she leaves. As the leader of In-School Support, she works with many students throughout the day, especially those experiencing behavioral challenges. She actively learns and incorporates Conscious Discipline, researches new strategies for hard-to-reach students on her own time, and spends her own money on incentives to motivate and support students. Amy also takes the time to build meaningful relationships with students who need it most. She lives in the Federalsburg community and truly believes in these children. She wants to see them succeed because she understands that they are the future of her town.”
As with the Teacher of the Year award, support employees also had a high number of nominations. In addition to Ms. Smith, four other exceptional finalists were named: Christina Black, Instructional Assistant at Ridgely Elementary; Becky Quidas, Head Custodian at Ridgely Elementary; David Rosario-Torres, Multilingual Family Coordinator and Translator at North Caroline High School; and Jane Towers, Attendance Secretary at Colonel Richardson Middle School.