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Every year, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) chooses one Teacher of the Year to celebrate, selected from among worthy nominees across the county. At the beginning of the selection process, each school nominates one educator to be considered for the award.
In December, AACPS announced 18 educators as semifinalists for the award, including four teachers from the Severna Park and Broadneck feeder systems: Joseph Bigsby from Magothy River Middle School, Nik Jones from Belvedere Elementary School, Elizabeth Welsh from Broadneck Elementary School and Meghan Welsh from Broadneck High School.
Magothy River Middle School — technology and engineering education, foundations of computer science
Calvert County native Joseph Bigsby has been a teacher for 13 years, eight of which have been spent at Magothy River Middle School (MRMS). After graduating from Towson University, Bigsby worked as a substitute teacher and an accountant before beginning to teach full-time.
Bigsby began his time at MRMS as a math teacher, transferring into a technology education role within the past four years. After splitting time between teaching math and his new role, Bigsby has recently transitioned to solely teaching technology education.
“I kind of fell in love with … all that problem solving and unpredictability that comes with a tech ed class,” Bigsby explained. One of his main goals as a teacher is to help students learn problem solving. “(I love) seeing those big smiles that come with that perseverance and just reminding them, hey, you did that.”
A resident of Cape St. Claire, Bigsby enjoys forming connections with his students both inside the classroom and out of it. Living in the same area as his students helps him stay in touch with them even after they’re no longer his students. “If they see me at the grocery store, they’re surprised to learn that I leave the school, and that’s kind of fun,” he said, adding later, “They see me as a neighbor and not just as a teacher.”
Since switching programs, Bigsby has started a MRMS robotics team, which is now in its second year. He also runs an afterschool game group called the strategy club, which he created due to a middle school game club helping him make friends when he was the same age as his students.
“Mr. Bigsby consistently goes above and beyond in his dedication to students and to the advancement of STEM education,” said MRMS Principal Lindsay Abruzzo about her nomination of Bigsby.
Belvedere Elementary School — second grade
Originally from Virginia, Nik Jones has known since he was a kid that he wanted to be a teacher. Jones attended Notre Dame of Maryland University for his undergraduate degree and George Washington University for his master’s. Now living in Annapolis, he has taught at Belvedere Elementary School for seven years. His first two years were spent teaching third grade, and then he switched to second.
Though he initially thought he’d want to teach kindergarten, Jones enjoys teaching second grade because of how he gets to watch the kids grow throughout the school year. His main goal for his students is for them to become more confident in themselves, both academically and socially. “Those are the foundational skills they need in order to thrive in school,” Jones said.
Belvedere Principal Sadie Seidl said, “It was very clear to me, even in my first year as Belvedere’s principal last year, that Mr. Jones was the perfect teacher to nominate for this prestigious honor. Families and colleagues alike describe him as transformative, creative and deeply committed to student success.”
In addition to teaching second grade, Jones helps lead SeaPerch, an underwater robotics club for fifth-graders. He also invites Belvedere students of all ages to join his classroom for Friday morning dance parties, a tradition he’s carried over from his time working at a child care center. While the number of students who participate fluctuates each week, there have been weeks where upward of 20 kids joined the fun on Friday mornings.
“I like seeing the kids thrive. I love the relationships I built with the students. I love the trust I have with the kids. I love that they want to learn,” Jones said.
Broadneck Elementary School — music and choir
Arnold resident and Philadelphia area native Elizabeth Welsh has taught at AACPS schools for 14 years. Welsh has taught within both the Broadneck and the Severna Park clusters. As the music and choir teacher, Welsh has the opportunity to work with students throughout their whole time at Broadneck Elementary School.
“You really get to see their personalities grow,” Welsh said. “And for me, a lot of the students live in my neighborhood, and I feel like they’re part of my family.”
Welsh’s goal for her students goes hand in hand with her role as the school’s music teacher – she wants to teach students skills that they’ll be able to use throughout their lives, such as confidence, creativity, teamwork, and learning to grow from mistakes. “I also really love that music is something you can do your whole entire life,” Welsh said.
Broadneck Elementary Principal Jamie Miller shared, “Mrs. Welsh has transformed our school’s music program into a vibrant and dynamic cornerstone of our community. … She has an exceptional ability to build confidence and creativity in her students, helping them discover their voices, collaborate with others, and grow as learners and individuals.”
In addition to teaching classes, Welsh oversees many extracurricular activities for students, some of which she introduced to Broadneck. Welsh wrote a grant for a steel drum arts residency that allows fourth-grade students to learn how to play steel drums and perform for their families. In addition, the third-graders perform in a recorder showcase, and the second-graders sing at the school’s annual volunteer breakfast.
At the end of January, 85 students will perform in the fifth-grade theater club’s production of “Madagascar Jr.,” which Welsh helps direct. She also takes the school’s choir to perform at King’s Dominion and the Chesapeake Baysox stadium each year.
“My favorite part about teaching music is connecting with students,” Welsh said. “Music gives students the opportunity for self-expression and creativity. I love seeing the students’ personalities shine and develop through music.”
Broadneck High School — ninth and 12th grade English
Pasadena resident Meghan Welsh always wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t her first stop on her career path. After graduating from Towson University with a degree in English, she spent 10 years working in sales and marketing. When she became a teacher, she knew she wanted to live and work in Anne Arundel County, in part due to having a cousin who had a great experience attending AACPS.
Originally, Welsh wanted to teach middle school, as it had been a difficult time for her when she was a kid. While studying to become a teacher, she interned at both Broadneck High School (BHS) and Severn River Middle School.
“I came to Broadneck High, and I went, ‘Nope! This is where I want to be. This is what I want to do,’” Welsh said. Though she didn’t start her full-time teaching career at BHS, she leapt on the opportunity to work there when a position opened around the pandemic.
Welsh teaches English to both freshmen and seniors, which she enjoys because it means she gets to work with students at both the beginning and the end of their high school careers. Creating a comfortable environment for students is important to her. “I just want them to have the best experience they can have while I have them,” Welsh said.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Welsh is the advisor for the class of 2026 and the class of 2029, a co-advisor for the student government, and an advisor for the cryptozoology club. She’s also the liaison for new teachers at BHS.
“Ms. Welsh’s dedication, joyful energy, and deep passion for education shine through in every interaction, elevating everyone around her,” said BHS Principal Katie Smith.
The 2026 AACPS Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Education Foundation of AACPS’ 40th annual Excellence in Education awards on Friday, April 24.
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