Teachers of Promise

The Teachers of Promise (TOP) program strategically leverages the knowledge, skills, and experiences of Teachers of the Year and other distinguished educators by pairing them with promising pre-service students from colleges and universities across Maryland.

Over 40 veteran teachers will take part in this year’s Teachers of Promise Program and Institute. Twenty schools will be sending their best and brightest.

Those schools are: Bowie State University, Frostburg State University, Goucher College, Hood College, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, Maryland Institute College of Art, McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Notre Dame University Maryland, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Salisbury University, Stevenson University, Towson University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of Maryland Global Campus, and Washington College.

Goal

The goal of the Teachers of Promise is to provide pre-service teachers with an opportunity to engage and learn from seasoned teachers. Whether it’s through storytelling or sharing resources, the expertise of having a mentor to smooth the path is invaluable. Many seasoned or veteran teachers invite their mentees to their classrooms to observe lessons being taught. This gives the pre-service teacher an insight into how the classroom is constructed and how the teacher handles the classroom and school community.

Benefits

• Possible teaching opportunity – several of our mentors have been instrumental in providing opportunities for their mentees to find teaching positions within Maryland.
  

• Becoming award-winning teachers – our Teachers of Promise aspirations don’t always end with the classroom. Several Teachers of Promise have become Local Teachers of the Year, Assistant Principals and Principals.
  

• Outstanding professional development opportunity – relationships formed through this program will help create a more confident teacher as they enter the classroom as a first-year teacher.
  

How to Apply

Every year five to seven students are nominated from Maryland colleges and universities to participate in Teachers of Promise. We only accept students from Maryland colleges and universities who will teach in Maryland Public Schools in the Fall of each year.

Program History

The Teachers of Promise (TOP) program began as the Maryland Initiatives for New Teachers (MINT) in 2002. Supported by the Teachers of the Year program, MINT gave new teachers and mentors the opportunity to hear about what’s new in education, critical state initiatives and legislation directly from leaders in education. It also provided a space where conversation and inspiration were abundant, from the speakers invited to address the audience to the mentors who could answer specific questions about the classroom.

MINT transitioned into the Teachers of Promise (TOP) program with the first Teachers of Promise Institute event held in 2007. The Teachers of Promise is an online mentoring program directly benefiting top students in their last year of college or university, hoping to teach in Maryland. Colleges and universities in Maryland nominate 5-7 of their top students majoring in Education. Those nominees are then matched with Maryland’s Teachers of the Year, Milken Educators, and other award-winning educators. The program culminates in a one-day Institute, underwritten by the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA), Education Systems, FCU and sponsors of the Teacher of the Year Program. Once matched, it is our hope that pre-service students and mentors begin and continue an online partnership that lasts throughout the spring and summer until the new teacher is placed in their schools.

Media Gallery

Find photos and videos from previous Teachers of Promise after the event ends. Follow us on social media for upcoming key dates and announcements.

Learn more

Contact:

Office of Communications and Community Engagement
communications.msde@maryland.gov

In the News

• McDaniel College (2023) 
  

• Mount St. Mary’s University (2023)
  

• Loyola University Maryland (2023)

• Stevenson University (2023) 

• Salisbury University (2023)