Education students recognized as Teachers of Promise

The Maryland State Department of Education recognized seven Education students from McDaniel College as Teachers of Promise.

The awardees included six students who graduated from McDaniel on May 23 with a major in Elementary Education or minor in Secondary Education along with one graduate student who is completing the Master of Science in Teaching program. Of these students, several have already accepted full-time teaching positions for the fall with Anne Arundel and Carroll County Public Schools. 

According to Robin Townsend ’75, coordinator of McDaniel’s Teacher Professional Development, “Despite state and national averages indicating that nearly half of all new teachers leave the profession within their first five years, McDaniel’s Education program vastly outperforms with an almost 100% retention rate for early-career educators who have graduated from our program. We believe this a testament to the professional training and experiences that our students are provided, preparing them for what it is like in real-world classroom environments.” 

McDaniel’s 2026 Teachers of Promise were:

• Camellia Codd of Mount Airy, Maryland, who graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors in Art and a minor in Secondary Education;
• Alexandra Combass of Westminster, Maryland, who graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors in Art and a minor in Secondary Education. Combass also earned The Michael and Polly Beaver Award for Excellence in Education;
• Sarah Globus ’25 of Hampstead, Maryland, who graduated from McDaniel with a bachelor’s degree in Art and is completing the Master of Science in Teaching program; 
• Elaine Griffith of Shady Side, Maryland, who graduated with an Elementary Education major;
• Jordan Palmer of Parkton, Maryland, who graduated with an English major and minor in Secondary Education;
• Chloe Wantz of Emmitsburg, Maryland, who graduated magna cum laude with departmental honors in Elementary Education. Wantz also earned The Michael and Polly Beaver Award for Excellence in Education;
• Tyler Vath of Coram, New York, who graduated cum laude with a major in Biology and minor in Secondary Education;

These students, who were nominated based on GPA, service, leadership, and performance during their student teaching semester, have been matched with award-winning educators in Maryland, including Maryland’s Teachers of the Year and Milken Educators, who provide online mentorship through the transition from college to the classroom.

They also participated on April 17 in a one-day Teachers of Promise Institute, underwritten by the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA), Education Systems, First Financial Federal Credit Union, and sponsors of the Teacher of the Year Program. 

Originally started as the Maryland Initiatives for New Teachers (MINT) in 2002 to give new teachers and mentors the opportunity to hear about what’s new in education, critical state initiatives, and legislation directly from leaders in education, the program transitioned in 2007 to Teachers of Promise when the first Teachers of Promise Institute was held.

"McDaniel’s Education program vastly outperforms with an almost 100% retention rate for early-career educators... We believe this a testament to the professional training and experiences that our students are provided, preparing them for what it is like in real-world classroom environments,” according to Robin Townsend ’75, coordinator of McDaniel’s Teacher Professional Development.