A teacher at Belle Grove Elementary School (BGES) in Brooklyn Park was recently named the 2025 Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Teacher of the Year, according to a news release.
Jacqueline Sanderson, who teaches English language development, is a longtime employee of AACPS, having started her career at Hilltop Elementary School in 2013 before moving to BGES. Sanderson is known as a “fierce supporter and ardent advocate of multilingual learners who goes the extra mile to create opportunities for students” to better understand concepts.
“Our multilingual students are not challenges to overcome,” Sanderson says after winning the award. “They are assets to our classrooms, our schools and our communities. It’s up to us to make sure every voice is heard, and every student’s potential is realized.”
Her impact is felt not only by her students, but also beyond the classroom walls, according to the news release. Sanderson facilitates community resource nights, monthly events and field trips for multilingual students and their families.
“She is committed to supporting multilingual learners through authentic and creative activities throughout the school day,” BGES Principal Keri Allen wrote in her letter nominating Sanderson.
She is the first teacher from BGES to receive this award and the first teacher from the North County cluster to be named Teacher of the Year since 2020.
Sanderson joins other contenders in the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition. Three of the last eight Maryland Teacher of the Year awards have been from AACPS, according to the news release.
