THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

JUST AHEAD ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK WE WILL MEET MARYLAND'S NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR WHAT IS HER AGENDA AS SHE TAKES THE NATIONAL STAGE?

FIRST, A MARYLAND HOSPITAL IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.

IT'S STARTING ITS OWN MEDICAL SCHOOL AS NANCY YAMADA REPORTS.

>> THROUGH NURSING SCHOOL I HAD A NUDGE I WANTED TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN AND LEAD THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN THAT CAPACITY.

>> AFTER SERVING AS A REGISTERED NURSE FOR THREE YEARS, ADAM IS A FIRST YEAR MED SCHOOL STUDENT AT THE NEW SCHOOL IN HAGERSTOWN.

>> I HEARD THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN PHYSICIANS IN RURAL AREAS.

WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE ABILITY TO SERVE IN THIS AREA, I WAS VERY EXCITED.

>> ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MALLORY GREW UP IN HAGERSTOWN WHERE HE LIVES WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.

>> FOR US TO TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND MY TRAINING IN A COMMUNITY I'M ROOTED IT IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.

>> THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE TO BRING A MEDICAL SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN PHYSICIANS STUDENTS LOCALLY SO THEY COULD LIVE AND PRACTICE HERE ONCE THEY ARE DONE.

>> THE DOCTOR IS THE DEAN AND CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AT THE MEREDITH SCHOOL WHICH HAD THE FIRST WHITE COAT CEREMONY IN JULY IS THE FIRST MEDICAL SCHOOL TO OPEN IN MARYLAND IN MORE THAN A CENTURY.

AT THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A DOCTOR OF OWES PATHIC MEDICINE DEGREE.

>> OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, FORM AND FUNCTION HOW BODY RELATES TO HEALING AND THEN THEY USE THOSE TO TREAT PATIENTS AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR TRAINING.

>> THEY CREATED THE MED SCHOOL TO ADDRESS A SHORTAGE IN RURAL AREAS LIKE WESTERN MARYLAND.

BY 2030 THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF 100,000 PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS IN THE U.S.

FILLING THE GAP ARE OSTEOPATHIC MED SCHOOL STUDENTS, 60% OF THEM CHOOSE TO GO INTO PRIMARY CARE.

>> STATISTICS WILL TELL YOU IF STUDENTS GO INTO THE RESIDENCY TRAINING THEY RESIDE WITHIN 100 MILES THAT IS PURPOSEFUL WHY THEY STARTED A MEDICAL SCHOOL AND HAS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY, A PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY AND WE RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR SURGICAL RESIDENCY AND WE'RE LOOKING AT INTERNAL MEDICINE AND OTHERS.

>> FOR MALLORY... >> MY GOAL IS TO PRACTICE HERE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY AND SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY I'M ROOTED IN.

>> IT LINES UP WITH HIS GOAL OF BECOMING A HOMETOWN DOCTOR.

>> BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PATIENTS MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND HAVING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP GOES A LONG WAY.

I'VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE CITY OR TRAVEL TO RECEIVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CARE.

IF WE CAN PROVIDE THAT CARE IN ALL AREAS, AND REALLY MAKE CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PATIENTS IN RURAL AREAS, OUR OVERALL PATIENT CARE WILL BE IMPROVED.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THANK YOU.

JOINING US IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

MALIK JOSHY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL?

>> WELL, JEFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE CHALLENGE IS ACCESS TO PHYSICIANS.

IT IS REALLY HARD TO GET TO SEE WHETHER IT IS A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR OR A SPECIALIST, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PHYSICIANS IN OUR REGION, IN MARYLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS A LONG PROBLEM LET'S GO ALL THE WAY UPSTREAM AND TRAIN OUR OWN DOCTORS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: WHERE IS THE BOTTLENECK?

IT'S THE CAREER WELL RESPECTED, OFTEN WELCOME STATED TO BE A DOCTOR IN THE UNITED STATES.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN?

>> THERE ARE.

THE ISSUE IS NOT ENOUGH MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

NOT ENOUGH RESIDENCIES AND THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG BOTTLENECKS ONCE YOU GET THROUGH PEOPLE WILL HIRE YOU.

MEDICAL SCHOOL HAS SO MANY WONDERFUL APPLICANTS, AND THEN RESIDENCY, SO MANY WONDERFUL APPLICANTS.

WE HAVE TO INCREASE BOTH TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

>> Jeff: OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE HAS GONE MAINSTREAM BUT FOR FUTURE PATIENTS OF YOUR FUTURE GRADUATES WHO ARE GOING TO SEE A DO INSTEAD OF AN MD, WHAT SHOULD THEY KNOW?

>> THEY SHOULD KNOW A DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE HAVE THE SAME TRAINING, SAME CLASSES, SAME EXAMS, ROTATIONS THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME AS PHYSICIANS.

THE DIFFERENCE IS ON THE PAT THICK PHYSICIANS GET ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON DIAGNOSTIC MANIPULATION AND MORE LIKELY TO BECOME PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.

THEY ARE EVERY TIME OF SPECIALTY YOU CAN THINK OF BUT GENERALLY MORE DO'S ARE FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTORS, INTERNAL MEDICINE DOCTORS, PSYCHIATRISTS, OB, PEDIATRICIANS AND THAT IS WHY WE PICKED IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY CARE IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: EVERY FIELD OF MEDICINE, SURGERY IS OPEN TO DO'S, BUT THEY TEND TO FOCUS MORE ON PRIMARY CARE?

>> THEY DO.

BUT AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE A NEUROSURGEON WHO IS A DO, A GENERAL SURGEON.

YOU NAME ANY PROFESSION AND THERE IS A DO FOR SURE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS TODAY, ONE OUT OF FOUR PHYSICIANS IN TRAINING, ARE BECOMING DO'S.

>> Jeff: RIGHT.

COMPLETELY BLENDED TOGETHER WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE INITIALS AFTER YOUR NAME WHICH MAYBE NEW TO PEOPLE IT'S DOCTOR PH FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WHICH MEANS YOU ARE EQUALLY SMART I'M SURE.

BUT YOU DON'T TREAT PEOPLE DIRECTLY?

>> NO, I TREAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH HOW DO YOU THINK OF HEALTH FOR EVERYBODY.

MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I DID DURING COVID TIME.

OKAY NOW I GET WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH DOES.

YES, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PHYSICIANS EVERYDAY.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT MEREDITH'S.

YOU ARE ANCHORED BY A BIG HOSPITAL IN HAGERSTOWN AND HAVE A LOT OF RELATED ENTITIES?

>> MEREDITH'S HEALTH IS IN HAGERSTOWN MARYLAND, WESTERN MARYLAND BUT WE SERVE ALL OF THE WESTERN MARYLAND REGION.

WE HAVE A 327-BED MEDICAL CENTER.

IT IS A LEVEL THREE TRAUMA CENTER WE HAVE OVER 3,000 TRAUMA VISITS A YEAR.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, BAD FALLS, GUNSHOT WOUNDS THEY COME TO US.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SHOCK TRAUMA, WONDERFUL TRAUMAS IN THE WESTERN PART WE PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

AND DO 2,000 DELIVERIES A YEAR.

AND 75,000 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS A YEAR THAT IS 280 VISITS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO WE'RE THE FRONT DOOR OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

AND WE'RE ALSO FORTUNATE TO HAVE BROUGHT IN THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL THAT SERVES THE WHOLE STATE OF MARYLAND.

AND A GROWING AREA WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING BUT CHILD AND ADOLESCENTS MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHCARE.

>> YOU HAVE THE MEREDITH'S NAME ON A COOL NEW MINOR LEAGUE BALL PARK IN HAGERSTOWN.

IF ANYBODY IS NEARBY AND HASN'T BEEN THERE, WAIT UNTIL SPRING BUT IT'S WORTH SEEING.

>> IT IS A TREMENDOUS FAMILY PARK, THE MEREDITH'S PARK HOME TO THE HAGERSTOWN FLYING BOX CARS WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMMUNITY EFFORT AND IT IS A JEWEL OF A PARK AND A GREAT PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER IN A COMMUNITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.

GATHERING THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HEALTH.

>> Jeff: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE DECISION TO OPEN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I MEAN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT YOUR HANDS FULL WITH THE HOSPITAL AND THESE OTHER ENTITIES, THIS WAS AN AMBITIOUS MOVE AND I'M SURE THE DECISION DIDN'T COME LIGHTLY.

>> IT DIDN'T, JEFF.

I'M BLESSED TO WORK HERE AND I TELL YOU, MEREDITH'S ONE VALUE IS COMMUNITY OBSESSED.

WE ARE OBSESSED WITH TAKING CARE OF THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL, WE CALL LONELY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY COUPLE WEEKS.

WE CALL 350 LONELY PEOPLE TO SAY HELLO.

I CALL TWO PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM AND WE TRY TO PROVIDE THAT CONNECTION.

WE PROVIDE A FOOD PHARMACY NOW.

IF YOU ARE A PATIENT AND COME TO OUR DOCTOR AND YOU HAVE FOOD INSECURITY, THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBES HEALTHY FOOD TO YOU IN THE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD.

THAT GOES THROUGH THE CARE MANAGERS AND WE GIVE THEM FREE FOOD, $50 A WEEK OF FOOD FOR 12 WEEKS AND WE HAVE OVER 100 PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.

AND WE WENT ALL IN ON TRANSPORTATION.

WE SHOULDN'T LET TRANSPORTATION BE A BARRIER TO ANYONE FOR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT.

WE BOUGHT EIGHT VANS WE HIRED DRIVERS AND WE DO 17,000 FREE TRIPS A YEAR FOR ANYONE IN OUR COUNTY FOR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT.

THOSE ARE THREE EXAMPLES WHY WE ARE ALL INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL IS A BOLD AMBITION, BUT I'M THRILLED TO SAY WITH OUR WHOLE TEAM HERE, WE'RE AT THE DAWN OF GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN WESTERN MARYLAND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> Jeff: WELL, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO BE PART OF THAT DAWN, MAYBE A PART OF THE SECOND CLASS OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL WHAT SHOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS, ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS WHAT IT COSTS THAT SORT OF THING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE OUR TUITION IS AT THE MEDIAN OF ALL MEDICAL SCHOOL TUITIONS WHICH IS $5,000 A YEAR.

AND WE -- $55,000 A YEAR.

WE HAVE HOUSING BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, 350 FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENTS WASHER DRYERS, KITCHENS A QUAD, PICKLEBALL COURT SO THEY CAN LIVE AND THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WILL TELL YOU, OUR APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN SKYROCKETING.

LAST YEAR WE ACCEPTED 96 STUDENTS OUT OF 1200 APPLICATION.

NEXT YEAR'S CLASS 135 WE ALREADY HAVE 2500 APPLICATIONS.

SO WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS, AS ANYBODY, GET YOUR SCIENCES, TAKE YOUR M CAT'S, WORK WITH PHYSICIANS AND SHADOW THEM DO GREAT COMMUNITY SERVICE YOU WILL BE A GREAT CANDIDATE.

>> Jeff: IS IT MOSTLY PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS ALREADY?

OR JUST OUT OF COLLEGE?

>> JUST OUT OF COLLEGE.

ALTHOUGH, WE HAVE GREAT STORIES.

WE HAVE FROM OUR HOSPITAL A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO AN I.C.U.

NURSE, A MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND A PHYSICIAN OFFICE AND THEY HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS IN SCHOOLING AND I WANT TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN IT'S TREMENDOUS.

THE OTHER THING IS OUR CONNECTION WITH MARYLAND.

WE HAD A TREMENDOUS PIPELINE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY FROM THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS COMING FROM OUR AREA AND OUR STATES AROUND US.

>> Jeff: WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE FIRST CLASS?

>> YEAH, IT IS A TREMENDOUS GROUP.

SO EVEN THOUGH OBVIOUSLY WE'RE MARYLAND BASED, WE ACTUALLY HAD APPLICATIONS FROM OVER 44 STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE STUDENTS COMING FROM 22 STATES.

THEY ARE EVERY GENDER, THEY HAVE GREAT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCE AND MAJORS.

WE'RE JUST VERY BLESSED TO HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO ARE REALLY LEARNING HARD TO BECOME DOCTORS.

>> Jeff: SOMETHING I'VE WONDERED ABOUT IN MEDICINE AND OTHER FIELDS THE POOL OF KNOWLEDGE, COMPARED TO A DECADE OR A CENTURY AGO HAS EXPANDED AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

EXPONENTIALLY.

HOW DO YOU TRAIN TOMORROW'S DOCTORS WHEN YOU KNOW BY THE TIME THEY GET OUT OF MEDICAL SCHOOL AND RESIDENCIES, SO MUCH INFORMATION IS GOING TO CHANGE?

>> JEFF, WHAT A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, THE ART IS TO TRAIN EVERYTHING YOU KNOW NOW.

BUT TO ALSO TRAIN THEM TO BE LEARNERS.

THAT IS EXACTLY YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY LEARN.

AND THAT IS WHY WE LOVE IT WHEN OUR ATTENDING DOCTORS ARE TEACHING NEW STUDENTS THEY HAVE TO UP THEIR GAME TO TEACH THEM.

WE THINK IT IS A GREAT LEARNING CYCLE.

YES, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE KNOWLEDGE AND THERE ARE CORE SIGNS THAT WON'T CHANGE BUT YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE LEARNING MODE.

RESEARCH IS A BIG PART OF OUR AGENDA.

WE WANT EVERY STUDENT TO DO A RESEARCH PROJECT.

ALL THE THINGS THAT BUILD YOU AS AN ONGOING GREAT DOCTOR AND ONE WHO IS GOING TO KEEP GETTING BETTER.

>> Jeff: THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF MEREDITH'S HEALTH SYSTEM WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[♪♪] OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS ALANA COURIER THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO WAS NAMED THE 2026 MARYLAND STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Jeff: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT DREW YOU TO TEACHING?

>> YEAH.

SO I MOVED TO FREDERICK WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD.

MY DAD WAS IN THE MILITARY I WAS BORN IN JAPAN.

WHEN WE CAME BACK TO THE STATES, WE LANDED IN MARYLAND.

SO I WENT THROUGH THE FREDERICK COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM MYSELF.

MY TWO BIG THINGS GROWING UP DRESSED UP FOR CAREER DAY, IT ALWAYS WAS A TEACHER OR A LAWYER.

GROWING UP, MY PARENTS AND GROWN-UPS AROUND ME SHE IS A TALKER SHE LIKES TO DEBATE AND DEFEND THINGS THAT WAS THE LAWYER SIDE.

AND AS I KEPT GOING THROUGH SCHOOL, I JUST FOUND A LOVE FOR KIDS AND I DID CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAD INTERNSHIPS I FEEL LIKE HIGH SCHOOL IS WHEN I FIGURED OUT I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER.

SO THEN, I WENT TO HUD, ALSO IN FREDERICK.

AND I GOT MY BACHELOR'S IN EDUCATION.

AND THEN I ALSO GOT MY MASTERS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

PEOPLE KIND OF SAID THAT LIKE I'M HOMEGROWN.

I REALLY HAVE JUST STAYED IN THE FREDERICK COUNTY AREA AND NOW I HAVE STARTED MY SEVENTH YEAR AS A TEACHER IN FREDERICK COUNTY.

>> Jeff: TELL US HOW THIS RECOGNITION CAME ABOUT?

I SAW VIDEO OF YOU BEING RECOGNIZED, SURPRISED, MAYBE AMBUSHED AT YOUR SCHOOL WITH NEWS THAT YOU HAD BEEN CHOSEN AS THE COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

WHEN WAS THAT?

>> SO, THAT WAS APRIL.

AND I GOT MARRIED IN APRIL.

SO I RETURNED TO WORK ON A MONDAY.

AND THEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY.

DEFINITELY I WAS SHOCKED AND SURPRISED.

THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD LET US KNOW THAT WEEK.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN MY MIND IF IT WAS ME THEY WOULD BE SHOWING UP AND THIS GRAND THING.

SO I FELT JUST VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT THAT WENT INTO IT.

AND HAVING MY STUDENTS THERE AND GETTING TO CELEBRATE THAT WITH MY FAMILY AND MY COLLEAGUES AND MY SUPPORT SYSTEM.

BUT TO BACKTRACK AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SO I WAS NAMED THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND THROUGH A PROCESS OF LEADERSHIP AND OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE INPUT AND THAT KIND OF CAME OUT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE NAMED THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

AND THEN WHEN YOUR SCHOOL'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR THEN YOU ARE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND THAT CONSISTENTED OF A PROCESS OF SEVERAL INTERVIEWS I WROTE ESSAYS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AS WE WENT THROUGH QUARTER FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE BEEN A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AND FOURTH GRADE IS A GREAT TIME FOR KIDS.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE YOU ARE ROUGHLY 10 YEARS OLD, THE SKILLS ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER.

BUT NOW FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR YOU'RE FOCUSED SPREAD AROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE?

>> YES.

SO I STARTED MY CAREER AS A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AND I GOT TO TEACH FOURTH GRADE FOR SIX YEARS.

THAT BECAME MY JAM, MY PASSION.

I MEAN, YES, A LOT OF KIDS ARE NINE TURNING 10.

SO I TAUGHT MATH, I TAUGHT READING THE LAST FEW YEARS I WAS FOCUSING ON MATH, SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES.

WE ARE GETTING INTO FRACTIONS AND ADDING AND SUBTRACT SINGLE DIGIT NUMBERS AND YOU SEE THE DRORT.

AT THIS AGE, TOO, IS SOMETHING I LOVE IS TEACHING THEM HOW TO SELF ADVOCATE AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING AND YOU START TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

EVEN IN THIRD GRADE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THAT.

AND I SAY I WANT MY STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT ACADEMICS BUT I'M TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE ADULTS AND PEOPLE AND THE WORLD AND THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK YOU SEE THOSE THINGS COME OUT LIKE IN THIRD GRADE, FOURTH GRADE, FIFTH GRADE AND IT STARTS IN PRE-K YOU ARE WORKING ON IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> Jeff: AND THE CLASSROOM VIDEO THE KIDS ARE WEARING PLASTIC HELMETS.

I DON'T KNOW LIKE -- WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> I LOVE HAVING FUN AND I LOVE A THEME THAT IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT ME.

I LOVE THEMES.

SO A COLLEAGUE MY MATH SPECIALIST SHE MENTIONED ONE-TIME, MAYBE WE COULD DO A THEME FOR GEOMETRY BECAUSE IT'S TOWARDS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT WHEN SHE PUT IT IN MY EAR I WAS GOING TO RUN WITH IT ALL THE WAY.

WE STARTED OFF WITH HAVING GEOMETRY JUNGLE AND DID 60s SUBTRACTION AND THE ONE YOU SAW THE VIDEO THAT WAS GEOMETRY JUNGLE AND DID DINO DIVISION IT WAS A WAY TO CONNECT TO MY KIDS AND GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING AND KNOWING THAT LEARNING CAN BE FUN AND I SAY WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD BUT I WANT SCHOOL TO BE MEMORABLE I WANT TO MAKE FUN EXPERIENCE AND MEMORIES FOR MY STUDENTS.

SO THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE SEEING.

SO I GOT THE HATS AND I DECORATED AND WE HAD LIKE OUR GROOVY STUDENT OF THE DAY DID THE 60s SUBTRACTION AND THEY GOT TO SIT IN MY CHAIR IT WAS A WAY OF MOTIVATING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR AND GETTING THEIR WORK DONE AND BEING WILLING TO LEARN AND GROW.

SO I LOVE THEMES EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE MY OWN CLASSROOM THIS YEAR, I'M VERY MUCH LIKE ANY TEACHER WHO I WORK WITH WHO WANTS TO DO A THEME I'M SO FOR IT.

>> Jeff: YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN CLASSROOM BECAUSE YOU ARE SPREAD AROUND DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS AS A SPECIALIST.

TELL US ABOUT THIS POSITION?

>> SO I AM A TARGETED INTERVENTIONIST.

I'M WORKING IN FOURTH GRADE FOR MATH.

THIRD GRADE FOR MATH AND FIRST GRADE FOR READING.

AND THE THING IS THAT IS WHERE THE NEED IS RIGHT NOW H BUT IT COULD SHIFT.

I COULD BE IN THE FIRST GRADE CLASS AND MOVE TO SECOND GRADE BECAUSE WE ARE DRIVING OUR DECISIONS BASED OFF OF DATA AND OBSERVATIONS AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED SOMETHING THAT I ALSO AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS POSITION, IS I CAN BE IN AN AREA FOR PART OF THE YEAR AND MOVE TO A DIFFERENT AREA AND SUPPORT OTHER STUDENTS AND WE ARE USING WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING TO GUIDE OUR INSTRUCTION AND HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE PROGRESS AND TO CLOSE GAPS OR ACCELERATE AND ENRICH STUDENTS.

AND SO FOR ME IT LOOKS DIFFERENT.

FOR SOME OF MY STUDENTS IT IS A TARGETED INTERVENTION.

LIKE A GROUP OF STUDENTS AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS IN MATH IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO GET TO GRADE LEVEL, EXPECTATIONS AND STANDARDS.

FOR SOME STUDENTS I'M HELPING WITH ENRICHMENT WE ARE DIVING INTO PROBLEMS MORE CRITICAL THINKING, SOLVING MULTISTEP PROBLEMS.

AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN PRIMARY BEFORE.

FIRST GRADE FOR ME IT IS NEW.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

AND IT IS A CHALLENGE.

BUT IT'S ALLOWING ME TO GROW AS AN EDUCATOR AND I AM A BELIEVER I WANT MY STUDENTS TO LEARN AND GROW I HAVE TO BE A LIFELONG LEARNER AS AN EDUCATOR THAT IS SOMETHING I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AND I HAVE A GREAT TEAM TO SUPPORT ME.

MY TEAMMATE, I'M ALWAYS ASKING HER QUESTIONS AND READING IS HER PASSION.

SO I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE HER, TOO.

AND MY SUPPORT AT MY SCHOOL AS WELL.

>> Jeff: SO ALONG THOSE LINES WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE FACED AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER?

>> SO MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING WAS THE START OF COVID.

I ALWAYS THINK THAT WAS LIKE A BIG CHALLENGE FOR ME AS AN HE HAD CAYER -- EDUCATOR.

I WAS 21 FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE LEARNING HOW TO BE A TEACHER WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND LIKE WITHOUT HAVING BEING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S CLASSROOM.

AND THEN COVID CAME AND I ALSO HAD TO LEARN TO TEACH DIGITALLY AS WELL A NEW THING THAT WASN'T REALLY THE NORM.

SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY A BIG CHALLENGE.

I THINK AS A TEACHER, FOR ME, IS I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP MY STUDENTS EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT A CLASS WE HAVE DIVERSE NEEDS AND DIVERSE STUDENTS.

SO TRYING TO REACH ALL THEIR NEEDS, I THINK, SOMETIMES I CAN BE HARD ON MYSELF.

AM I MEETING EVERY SINGLE CHILD'S NEED EVERY SINGLE DAY IN ORDER TO MOVE THEM.

AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS AN EDUCATOR BECAUSE I LOOK AT MY STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT JUST GROUPING THEM TOGETHER.

OF HOW WHAT DOES THIS CHILD NEED VERSUS WHAT DOES THIS CHILD NEED AND HOW DO I MAKE SURE I CAN GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED SO THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND GROWING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Jeff: THE DEAL WITH BEING THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR YOU WILL BE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM FOR A YEAR, RIGHT?

AND YOU HAD THIS GREAT PLATFORM IT IS A NATIONAL PLATFORM.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT?

>> SO, I'M STILL TEACHING FULL-TIME.

I THINK THAT IS A MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE THINK I'M NOT TEACHING.

I COME TO WORK EVERYDAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES I'M SHOWING UP MONDAY-FRIDAY UNLESS IT IS A DAY OFF.

TEACHING IS MY FULL-TIME JOB.

SO AS FAR AS MARYLAND STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND EVEN BEING A PART OF THE NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR COHORT THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE ON TOP OF MY DAY-TO-DAY TASKS AS A TEACHER.

SOMETIMES IT'S LOOKING LIKE I MIGHT TAKE A DAY OFF AND DO THAT THIS WEEKEND I WILL BE GOING TO OCEAN CITY AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING AT THE MSCA CONVENTION AT THE END OF THE MONTH, I'M DOING A THREE-DAY RETREAT WITH THE OTHER COUNTY TEACHERS OF THE YEAR IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

I ALSO WILL BE SPEAKING AT DIFFERENT CONFERENCES.

I'M GOING TO CALIFORNIA IN FEBRUARY.

I GET TO MEET ALL THE OTHER STATE AND TERRITORY TEACHERS OF THE YEARS WITHIN THE NATION THAT IS SUPER EXCITING.

SO, YEAH, I'M STILL TEACHING EVERY SINGLE DAY THIS IS STILL MY JOB IT IS A BALANCING AND I HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OUTSIDE OF TEACHING BUT I'M STILL A TEACHER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND PEOPLE IN SCHOOL SYSTEM LEADERSHIP, POLITICS, TO KNOW ABOUT EDUCATION THAT MAYBE THEY ARE MISSING?

HOW CAN WE ALL HELP TEACHERS LIKE YOU SUCCEED MORE IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> I THINK LISTENING TO THE TEACHERS IS A BIG FIRST STEP.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TEACHERS AND SO MANY PROGRAMS AND COUNTY TO COUNTY NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LISTENING.

AND ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO PARENTS I TELL MY PARENTS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE OUR PARTNERS.

I THINK FOR PARENTS IS PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT.

TEACHERS WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AND SEE YOUR KID BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE'RE PARTNERS AND WE'RE TEAMMATES.

AND PARENTS ALSO THEY HELP PLAY A HUGE PART IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I LOVE AND I ALWAYS WANT MY PARENTS REACHING OUT AND SPEAKING TO ME AND HELPING THEM AND HELPING THEIR CHILD BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND, YEAH, I THINK, TOO, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF THEY CAN COME OUT AND VISIT A SCHOOL AND SEE WHAT THE DAY-TO-DAY IS LIKE IF YOU ARE WORKING IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, REMEMBER TO LIKE GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND SEE THE THINGS AND NOT GET TOO FAR REMOVED IF YOU ARE ONLY IN A BUILDING OR HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR STUDENTS AND REALLY KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR DECISIONS, TOO.

BECAUSE THIS IS WHY WE HAVE SCHOOL FOR THE STUDENTS.

WE WANT TO SEE THEM MAKE PROGRESS AND BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY AND ALSO KNOWING THAT EVERYONE'S LEARNING JOURNEY AND TRAJECTORY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME.

>> Jeff: THE NEW MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Jeff: THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM WILL BE BROADCAST ON MPT 2 AT 8:00 P.M.

ON NOVEMBER THE FIFTH.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".