Category: School Notebook

Eastern Tech Teacher Awarded TEEAM Honor


Angela Waldrop is an engineering teacher at Eastern Technical High School. -Photo Courtesy of BCPS –

The Technology & Engineering Educators Association of Maryland (TEEAM) has selected Angela Waldrop, an engineering teacher at Eastern Technical High School, as the High School TEEAM Teacher Excellence Award winner for Maryland.

To receive this award, a teacher must have an extensive background in technology and engineering education and must pursue meaningful ongoing professional development opportunities. Creative and innovative use of resources and meeting the needs of a diverse student population are also crucial factors considered.

Waldrop, who has taught for Baltimore County Public Schools for 13 years, said, “The main goals of technology and engineering education are to prepare students to recognize and use various sources of technology, including cutting-edge tools and devices … to prepare them to be competitive, global citizens.”

Waldrop emphasizes that her global approach to teaching technology and engineering education is focused on the ‘Design Thinking’ process, in which students are taught to investigate and innovate based on the needs of a particular person or group of people. She added, “This branch of education should prepare students to have a positive attitude when problems arise so they may seek out tools and systems to solve such problems.”

Waldrop, who, in addition to teaching at Eastern Tech is also the coordinator of the school’s MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) Club, will be recognized at the TEEAM Teacher Excellence Awards dinner in February 2019 at The Engineers Club in Baltimore. She also will be considered for a state/national award at the ITEEA 2019 Conference to be held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Gunpowder Elementary teacher named among Towson University’s Twenty Tigers in their Twenties


Brianna Sosnowski, a special educator at Gunpowder Elementary School, is among the Twenty Tigers in their Twenties recently honored by the Towson University Alumni Association.

The program is designed to honor Towson University alumni, between the ages of 20 and 32, whose achievements have significantly enhanced their professions, communities, and/or Towson University.

Sosnowski graduated from Towson University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and special education. She immediately joined Baltimore County Public Schools as a special education teacher.

“At Gunpowder Elementary, Brianna is well known for her advocacy for students,” said Principal Wendy Cunningham. “She is deeply involved in the life of the school and serves as the co-chair of the Volunteer Tea, co-adviser to the Student Council, co-chair of the Social Committee, and a leading force behind the Virtue Project initiative.”

While working for BCPS, Sosnowski has earned a master’s degree in leadership in special education from Notre Dame University of Maryland and has earned certification to teach students with dyslexia.

Since 2015, she has volunteered as the special needs coordinator of Angel Park, a community-built playground in Perry Hall. In this role, she helped design the accessible parts of the playground and has organized special needs groups and events. She continues to volunteer her time as a park board member who assists with park events and fundraisers.

In addition, Sosnowski teaches children ages 3 to 11 at The Moving Company Dance Center, and is the head coach of the nationally-ranked dance team at The Catholic High School of Baltimore.