Oliver has been teaching since 2000 and last November achieved certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  Through her leadership, she is assisting 13 other Broad Acres teachers in pursuing their national certification this year.

She also trains new and experienced teachers on curriculum and instructional issues.

Oliver is a graduate of Hampton University and received her Masters in Education in elementary education from Wilmington College.  She is also a winner of the Greenblatt Excellence in Teaching Award from the Greenblatt Education Fund.

“Raising student achievement for disadvantaged students is an issue that is special to me,” said Oliver, who teaches at a school with a diverse student population where poverty and/or language barriers are prevalent.  “A quality teacher can outweigh the effects of race, poverty, and language barriers.  Our most disadvantaged students deserve our most accomplished teachers.”

Oliver also believes in supporting the entire family to help raise student achievement.  Perhaps her best endorsement comes from the mother of former students who continues to volunteer in her classes today.  She called Oliver “my family teacher…sort of like a family doctor.”

“Kimberly Oliver stands out among many talented educators,” said Dr. Grasmick.  “Her grasp of the profession—both in the classroom and as a mentor to other teachers, and parents, so early on in her career is what makes her so exceptional.”

Oliver will now go on to the National Teacher of the Year competition.  The National Teacher of the Year will be announced next April.

As the Maryland Teacher of the Year, Oliver will receive a new Honda Accord Hybrid, donated by the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association, and valued at $25,000.  Her entire prize package is worth more than $80,000, and also includes a “Smart Board,” donated by the SMARTer Kids Foundation, a one-week trip to Space Camp, and $5,000 cash donated by sponsors and the Maryland State Department of Education.  Her school will also receive an $8,000 interactive White Board donated by Peripheral Vision.

All local teachers of the year received prize packages worth $5,000.

Major corporate sponsors for the Maryland Teacher of the Year include the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association, McDonald’s Family of Greater Baltimore, Bank of America, Comcast, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Peripheral Vision, LLC, Verizon-Maryland and Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.  Additional sponsors include the Baltimore Sun, M&T Bank, Maryland Public Television, Maryland State Teachers Association, and State Farm Insurance Company.


A Conversation With Teachers
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7-13, 2006 
Maryland Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick and National Teacher of the Year Kim Oliver visit teachers at Loch Raven Technical Academy in Baltimore County during Teacher Appreciation Week this spring. Some of that conversation was recorded and is presented here.