Charles County Teacher Of The Year Surprised With Hallway Parade At J.C. Parks Elementary

INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Cheers, applause and handmade signs filled the halls of J.C. Parks Elementary School on Friday, March 6, 2026, as students surprised Emily Leedy, the 2026 Teacher of the Year for Charles County Public Schools, with a celebratory parade through the school.

Students lined both sides of the hallways holding colorful signs with Leedy’s name and printed cutouts of her face as she walked through the building. Children clapped, waved signs and cheered while teachers and staff joined in the celebration, turning the normally busy school corridors into a joyful tribute for the beloved educator.

The surprise came after Leedy was named the district’s 2026 Teacher of the Year during a ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2026, which recognized top educators across Charles County Public Schools.

Leedy teaches third grade at J.C. Parks Elementary, located at 3505 Livingston Road in Indian Head. She joined Charles County Public Schools at the start of the 2020 school year, first teaching at Malcolm Elementary School before later moving to J.C. Parks. At Parks, she initially served as an elementary science teacher before returning to the classroom as a third-grade teacher.

Before coming to Charles County, Leedy began her teaching career in Pennsylvania. She later moved to Maryland and taught at Accokeek Academy in Prince George’s County. After earning a master’s degree in environmental education, she worked at the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeek, where she combined her interests in education and environmental learning.

Colleagues say Leedy is known for her ability to explain complex ideas clearly and adapt lessons to meet the needs of different learners. Her classroom often includes hands-on and outdoor learning experiences that help students connect lessons to the real world.

Stephanie Hill, a fellow third-grade teacher, said Leedy has a gift for reaching students.

“Mrs. Leedy explains complex concepts clearly and adapts instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners,” Hill said in a Charles County Public Schools press release.

School leaders have also praised Leedy for creating a supportive classroom environment where students feel encouraged to take risks, ask questions and grow as learners.

“Her classroom is one where curiosity thrives,” said Hughes Valmond, principal of J.C. Parks Elementary School, in the district’s announcement. “Students are encouraged to think critically, take risks and celebrate their progress.”

Students say Leedy’s classroom stands out because of the way she makes learning fun.

“Mrs. Leedy is the best teacher,” Parks student Rylee Hart said in the release. “She makes learning fun and exciting and always finds cool ways to help us understand new things.”

As Charles County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Leedy will now represent the district in the Maryland Teacher of the Year program through the Maryland State Department of Education, where educators from across the state are considered for the statewide honor.

For students at J.C. Parks Elementary, however, the celebration was about something simpler — showing appreciation for a teacher who has made a difference in their school every day.

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