2022 Worcester County Teacher of the Year: Kristin Cashman – Pocomoke HS
In a celebration of excellence in education, tonight Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS) announced the 2022 Worcester County Teacher of the Year: Kristin Cashman of Pocomoke High School.
During its annual Teacher of the Year celebration, Worcester County Board of Education Vice President Todd Ferrante made the announcement following a program honoring all fourteen school-level teachers of the year and their commitment to providing a high-quality education to the young people of Worcester County.
“I am so proud of both Kristin and all of the incredible teachers we have honored this evening,” said Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor. “Kristin will be a fantastic representative not only for her school, but our entire school system as she progresses to the state-level program. Her passionate advocacy for equity in education is to be commended.”
An English teacher and leader of Pocomoke High School’s equity team, Cashman takes pride in creating a safe space in her classroom for all who enter. “No matter your race, ethnicity, creed, sexual orientation or identity, once you cross the threshold into my classroom, we become a family,” Cashman said in her portfolio. Through reading important historical texts like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Cashman endeavors to create a space for healthy discourse and dialogue among her students. Lessons like this are indicative of how Cashman values and amplifies student voice as they connect with and explore different pieces of literature.
Cashman is a graduate of Salisbury University, where she is also an adjunct professor in the education department. Beyond her work in the classroom, Cashman is also a coordinator for the Worcester on Wheels program, a mobile engagement and outreach program that won $1 million in the state’s competitive program to support innovative education solutions and learning recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cashman also facilitates Women Who Rise, a program developed with Worcester’s local higher education partners to create a pipeline for future female educators, particularly those who are historically underrepresented in education.
“A champion for all her students and colleagues, Kristin ignites the entire building with energy and enthusiasm for this work,” Pocomoke High School Principal Jenifer Rayne said. “Every school, every county, and every state needs a Kristin Cashman!”
Cashman was one of four finalists announced on March 18, who were in the running for the prestigious title. The other outstanding finalists were Steven Deakyne of Stephen Decatur High School, Lindsay Harrington of Stephen Decatur Middle School, and Michael Levy of Worcester Technical High School.
Cashman was selected by a panel of judges representing experts in the field of education including higher education partners, retired Worcester County Public Schools’ personnel, and the current reigning 2021 Worcester County Teacher of the Year. All candidates were judged based on a rigorous set of criteria in alignment with both the state and national level Teacher of the Year programs, which include instructional abilities, collaboration, building connections with our community, leadership and innovation both in and out of the classroom, and the ability to articulate their education beliefs and advocate for how to better this field.
