Loyola School of Ed Graduate recognized as Archdiocese of Baltimore Elementary School Teacher of the Year

Emma Ward, M.Ed., was recognized by the Department of Catholic Schools as the Archdiocese of Baltimore Elementary School Teacher of the Year yesterday at the 2024 Convocation of Catholic Schools at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium.

Ward, a first-grade teacher at St. Joseph School Cockeysville, learned of the honor during a surprise visit from Donna Hargens, Ed.D., the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s superintendent of Catholic schools, in May of this year.

“I am blessed to be named the Archdiocese of Baltimore Elementary School Teacher of the Year,” said Ward. “Teaching in a Catholic school is so rewarding because I can help children grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. In my classroom, I laugh every day, help children grow in their faith and knowledge, and build positive relationships with students and families.”

The Teacher of the Year recipients were selected by the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Teacher of the Year Committee, comprised of Department of Catholic Schools leadership. The committee selected Ward and the High School Teacher of the Year, Kimberly Burton of Archbishop Curley, from 40 archdiocesan elementary and secondary Teacher of the Year nominees, all of whom were the recipients of their school’s 2024 Teacher of the Year award. Ward was named the St. Joseph School Teacher of the Year in February of this year.

“We at Loyola congratulate Mrs. Ward on her well-deserved recognition as Archdiocesan Elementary School Teacher of the Year, a testament to her extraordinary passion for teaching, commitment to excellence, and devotion to the academic growth and spiritual enrichment of her students," said Afra Hersi, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education. "Mrs. Ward is a shining example of the positive impact educators can have in the classroom and beyond. We are honored that she chose Loyola's School of Education as the place to continue her educational leadership journey."

In an article from The Catholic Review at the time of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s initial announcement, Ward said that she chose to become a Catholic educator because she is able to help her community “grow academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.”

Ward received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Theology and Religious Studies from the Catholic University of America in 2020. She received her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Loyola in May of this year.