Nearly 500 guests gathered at Edgewood High School on April 16 to honor the educators, staff, and support professionals who make Harford County Public Schools a place where students can thrive.
The fourth annual Celebration of Excellence in Education recognized outstanding individuals across nine categories, from classroom teachers to bus drivers, and opened with the induction of two longtime HCPS educators into the district's Educator Hall of Fame.
"Each of these individuals has made a real and lasting impact on our students, schools, and community," said Dr. Dyann Mack, interim superintendent of HCPS. "Education is truly a team effort, and tonight is about recognizing the passion, commitment, and excellence that make HCPS such a special place to learn and work."
Educator Hall of Fame
The evening opened with the induction of William Ekey and Alice Puckett into the HCPS Educator Hall of Fame, a longstanding tradition that honors individuals whose careers have left a lasting mark on the school system and the students they served. Together, they represent 66 years of combined service to Harford County Public Schools.
William Ekey (33 years, 1973-2006)
William Ekey began his HCPS career teaching mathematics at Edgewood Middle School before moving to Edgewood High School. After a brief detour into the private sector, he returned to the district at Havre de Grace High School, teaching math and computer programming. He became assistant principal at Bel Air High School in 1985 and was appointed principal there in 1990, spending 11 years in that role before serving as principal of C. Milton Wright High School and later as Director of Secondary Education in the Central Office. He postponed a planned retirement to return to C. Milton Wright as principal, completing his 33 years of service in December 2006. During his career, he also served as president of the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals. Mr. Ekey holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from Loyola College of Maryland.
Alice Puckett (33 years, 1983-2016)
Alice Puckett spent her entire 33-year HCPS career at Fallston High School, where she taught Physical Education and served as Department Chair from 2004 to 2016. Beyond the classroom, she helped shape school culture through her work on the School Curriculum Committee, the Wellness Committee, and the Fallston Social Committee, and she co-founded the Fallston High School Sports Hall of Fame. She organized faculty fitness classes and co-created "Wellness Wednesdays" to promote healthy habits across the school community.
Ms. Puckett also built one of the most decorated field hockey programs in Maryland history, compiling a 366-86-19 record with 11 State Championships and 19 Regional Championships. Her honors include National Federation Coach of the Year (2003), multiple All-Metro Coach of the Year recognitions from The Baltimore Sun, and four Harford County Coach of the Year awards. She has been inducted into the Fallston High School Sports Hall of Fame, the Fallston High School Ring of Honor, the Bridgewater College Sports Hall of Fame, and the Harford County Sports Hall of Fame (2025). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Bridgewater College.
2026 Honorees
Teacher of the Year: Michael James, North Harford High School
Michael James has spent his career as an English teacher at North Harford High School building a practice centered on growth, for students, teachers, and communities alike. A National Board-Certified Teacher and department chair, Mr. James holds a bachelor's degree in English from Washington and Jefferson College and a master's degree in reading from Towson University. He contributes to district work groups on grading, reading, and technology, and advocates for student voice as the advisor and editor of Misentity magazine.
Principal of the Year: Jennifer Gasdia, Old Post Road Elementary School
Jennifer Gasdia is a product of Harford County Public Schools who has spent 23 years serving students, staff, and families as both an educator and school leader. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Towson University and served as assistant principal and then principal at Havre de Grace Elementary School before joining Old Post Road Elementary as interim principal in September. In October 2025, she received the Harford Education Foundation Principal Achievement Award. Her leadership philosophy centers on the belief that "a successful school beats with one heart."
Assistant Principal of the Year: Caitlin Sieracki, Bakerfield Elementary School
Caitlin Sieracki has served the students and community of Harford County for 19 years. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Towson University and her master's degree in administration and supervision from Notre Dame of Maryland University. After earning National Board Certification for literacy in 2013 and serving in Title I leadership roles at Edgewood Elementary, she became assistant principal at Bakerfield Elementary in 2022.
Education Support Professional of the Year: Tara Lloyd-Laurence, Bakerfield Elementary School
Tara Lloyd-Laurence has been a reading paraeducator at Bakerfield Elementary since 2020, supporting students in kindergarten through fifth grade through intervention groups and small group instruction. Originally from St. Martin and a proud mother of four children who attended HCPS, she brings both personal and professional perspective to her work every day. Her greatest joy, she says, is watching students gain confidence and curiosity as they discover the power of reading.
Student Services Professional of the Year: Karen Cunningham, Edgewood Elementary School
Karen Cunningham has served as a school counselor at Edgewood Elementary for 16 years, following a decade as a special educator in the district. She earned her bachelor's degree from Marywood College and her master's degree in school counseling from Loyola University Maryland. Under her leadership, Edgewood Elementary became the only school in Harford County to earn the American School Counselor Association's Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation.
Operations Professional of the Year: Christopher McKelvey, C. Milton Wright High School
Christopher McKelvey has spent a decade with HCPS, beginning as a custodian at Edgewood Middle School, advancing to chief custodian at Havre de Grace Elementary, and serving as School Safety Liaison at C. Milton Wright High School for the past several years. A Bel Air High School graduate, he has built a career defined by growth and a commitment to safe and effective school environments.
General Education Bus Driver of the Year: Kimberly Bennett, Bus 720
Kimberly Bennett has served HCPS for 39 years and comes from a family with deep roots in school transportation. A lifelong Harford County resident and Bel Air High School graduate, she drives a route serving North Harford High, North Harford Middle, and North Bend Elementary schools. Known for greeting every student by name and dressing up for holidays, she describes herself as having six biological grandchildren and 66 "bonus" ones among the students she cares for each day.
Special Education Bus Driver of the Year: Dawn Mahaley, Bus 323
Dawn Mahaley has spent 27 years driving a school bus, the last 15 with HCPS. A lifelong Harford County resident and Edgewood High School graduate, she serves students at Joppatowne High, Old Post Road, Deerfield, and Edgewood Elementary schools. Her colleagues describe her as compassionate, professional, and a consistent source of warmth on every route she has driven. Watching students learn and grow from one season to the next, she says, makes getting out of bed every morning effortless.
Bus Attendant of the Year: Elizabeth Cole, Bus 474
Elizabeth Cole has served HCPS for 13 years, working with students at C. Milton Wright High, Meadowvale, William S. James, and Havre de Grace elementary schools. In one example that exemplifies her impact, she spent three years helping a student with special needs go from anxious about bus rides to fully comfortable and confident, ultimately no longer needing the special needs bus. She credits teamwork between attendants and drivers as the foundation of the job.
