Somerset County Public Schools Releases Statement on Teacher of the Year Incident; All celebrations and formal recognitions are temporarily on hold
The following is a statement released by Somerset County Public Schools in reference to the recent confusion surrounding the Teacher of the Year Award.
The following is the statement that was issued in a press release, directly from Somerset County Public Schools website. Eastern Shore Undercover is posting this statement verbatim with no changes or opinion:
Begin Statement -
Westover, MD - Following the March 29, 2026 press release issued by Somerset County Public Schools (SCPS), which recognized and celebrated our Teacher of the Year (TOY) finalists, the district is aware of continued confusion and misinformation circulating within the community and across social media platforms. This statement is intended to provide clarity and reaffirm our commitment to transparency, professionalism, and respect.
As previously communicated, the SCPS Superintendent and Executive Cabinet met with both the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year to express our sincere regret regarding the clerical error that impacted this year's recognition process.
We remain deeply disappointed that these outstanding educators were placed in such a position. Any negative commentary directed toward them is entirely unwarranted.
These individuals are exemplary professionals who deserve recognition, appreciation, and respect from our entire community.
It is equally concerning that members of the SCPS Cabinet and teacher mentors have been subjected to criticism and, in some instances, inappropriate or threatening behavior.
While we respect the community's interest in this matter, any form of harassment-whether in person or online-is unacceptable. Threats or abusive conduct will be taken seriously and, when appropriate, referred to local law enforcement.
We also reiterate that the Somerset County Public Schools Board of Education plays no role in the Teacher of the Year selection process. Any claims or insinuations suggesting Board involvement are inaccurate. Continued dissemination of this misinformation is harmful and must cease.
SCPS has initiated a comprehensive review of the Teacher of the Year process. This review will be shared with the Board of Education and will include the formation of a committee tasked with strengthening procedures. Additionally, SCPS will conduct an independent audit of the scoring process to ensure accuracy, fairness, and integrity.
The goal is to ensure enhanced safeguards, including clear checks and balances, improved verification processes, and reinforced confidentiality measures moving forward.
In light of ongoing concerns and to preserve the integrity of the process, all related celebrations and formal recognitions are temporarily on hold. This decision was not made lightly, as we recognize the importance of honoring our educators. It is especially difficult given the exceptional caliber of professionals who are deserving of celebration.
Somerset County Public Schools remains committed to resolving this matter in good faith. We respectfully ask all members of the community to join us in moving forward constructively. By doing so, we can ensure that our focus returns to what matters most-recognizing and celebrating the outstanding educators who serve our students each day.
We thank our community for your time, attention, and continued support of Somerset County Public Schools.
End Statement -
Disclosure: Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
