Frederick, MD – Walkersville High principal Dr. Stephanie Ware and Brunswick Elementary music educator AnnaClaire Ballard-Ayoub are finalists for educator awards facilitated by The Washington Post.
Dr. Ware is the 2025 Frederick County finalist for Washington Post Principal of the Year. Ballard-Ayoub is the 2025 Frederick County finalist for Washington Post Teacher of the Year.
Both were surprised by the news via ceremonies at their schools attended by students, staff, and community leaders.
Now in its 42nd year, The Washington Post Educator Awards recognize outstanding school leadership and celebrate educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication to improving student outcomes across the Washington metropolitan area. Educators are nominated by their school systems and communities.
Dr. Stephanie Ware, Washington Post Principal of the Year finalist
At Walkersville High, Dr. Ware is known for always making decisions in the best interest of students.
Walkersville High earned four out of five stars on the most recent report card issued by the Maryland State Department of Education – with gains in the Academic Achievement, Readiness for Postsecondary Success, and School Quality and Student Success categories.
Last summer, Walkersville High received the FCPS Sportsmanship Award banner in recognition of the character shown by student-athletes during the 2023-24 school year.
Prior to serving at Walkersville High, Dr. Ware was principal at Monocacy and Oakdale middle schools, assistant principal at Brunswick and Frederick high schools, and teacher at Middletown High and Urbana Middle.
Dr. Ware earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and secondary education from McDaniel College in 2002, her Masters of Education degree in educational leadership from Hood College in 2007 and her Doctorate of Education in administrative leadership for teaching and learning from Walden University in 2014.
AnnaClaire Ballard-Ayoub, Washington Post Teacher of the Year finalist
Ballard-Ayoub, a 2024 FCPS Teacher of the Year finalist, joined the faculty at Brunswick Elementary in 2023. Prior to that, she taught music at Monocacy Elementary. In 2017, she was awarded the VFW Teacher of the Year Award for her programs, which celebrated veterans.
During her surprise ceremony, she walked through two lines of cheering faculty and staff. When asked to provide remarks, she chose to keep the focus on the fourth and fifth grade students in attendance, many of whom are active in the school’s music offerings.
Ballard-Ayoub has a Masters of Music from Peabody Conservatory and she has earned an Orff-Schulwerk certification from George Mason University.