Two alumni from the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program were selected as teachers of the year for their respective Maryland school systems. Tylita Butler MAT ’18 was selected as teacher of the year for St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) and Taylor Schafer ’15 /MAT ’16 was selected for Cecil County Public Schools (CCPS).
The Maryland Teacher of the Year Program, an affiliate of the National Teacher of the Year program, serves all 24 Maryland local school systems. Selected educators demonstrate excellence in teaching and inspire others within and beyond their school communities.
Butler has been with SMCPS for seven years. She teaches eighth-grade science at Esperanza Middle School.
“The MAT program at St. Mary's College was a model of what happens when you have resounding educators who care about your advancements in life and your career,” she said. Butler said she has formed lifelong connections with professors in the program and feels comfortable reaching out to them. “If I can imitate half of what those professors did for me, I know I have achieved success,” she said.
Katy Arnett '00, associate vice president for academic affairs, said she was not surprised to learn Butler had been selected this year and was glad to see that the recognition would bring light to the work she’s done since she began as an educator.
“During her year with us, Tylita's leadership, creativity about teaching, determination to teach middle school science, care for her students and dynamism inspired not just the faculty but all of her colleagues in the program,” Arnett said.
Butler is the third MAT alum in the past five years to receive this recognition from SMCPS. April Ryan '09 and Lauren Runkles '09, both from the 2010 MAT cohort, were winners in 2021 and 2024 respectively.
Schafer, a middle school social studies teacher for nine years at North East Middle School in North East, Maryland, also praised professors of the MAT program aiding in her success as an educator.
“My time in the MAT program was absolutely transformational in terms of my teaching career now. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.” Schafer said. “The professors were so dedicated to our cohort and I felt so supported throughout the program. They modeled for us how to be effective educators, and I'm grateful for that,” she added.
Arnett recalled teaching Schafer when she was an undergrad at SMCM and in the MAT program. She said she had a window into Schafer’s early adventures developing engaging lessons for history and social studies content.
“Even then, it was clear that her pedagogy would be anchored to high standards, constructive support, a belief that all students could learn and that her lessons would never use the same methods day to day,” she said.
Butler and Schafer are currently in the running for Maryland Teacher of the Year.
