By: Sabrina Miller, Content Strategy Director
Baltimore, MD- When Chelsea McDonald M’15 was named the 2025 Elementary School Outstanding Mathematics Educator, it confirmed what her mother had always believed—that she was born to teach.
A proud alumna of the master’s in leadership in special education program at (NDMU), McDonald has been a teacher in Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) for 11 years. She is the first educator from the district since 2020 to receive this honor from the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
For more than a decade, she has taught fourth-grade math at Lothian Elementary, where her dedication to students has been inspired by excellent teachers like her recently retired colleague. “Laura Reddish is my role model… a true Lothian legend,” McDonald shared. “She has a gift for making each student feel loved and respected. She spent her career giving so much to the Lothian community.”
McDonald chose to study at because her colleagues highly recommended it. The university also reminded her of Concordia College, her undergraduate alma mater, because of its historic charm and supportive learning environment.
Choosing to specialize in special education was a purposeful decision to better serve diverse learners. “My classroom includes a wide range of learning abilities, so I use Guided Math groups as the foundation of my instruction,” McDonald explained. “During our 70-minute math block, I dedicate over 30 minutes each day to small group instruction. It’s something my students look forward to and has significantly boosted both their mathematical success and confidence.”
To build on that momentum, McDonald incorporates positive reinforcement into her teaching. “Every student has the opportunity to shine in math, and that sense of achievement is celebrated,” she said. From math competitions and personalized certificates to creative incentives like “tattoo the teacher,” homework passes, and positive phone calls home, her classroom is full of encouragement and joy.
With a passion for making math meaningful, inclusive, and fun, McDonald continues to shape confident learners—one small group at a time.
Reflecting on the recognition, McDonald said she was not only “absolutely honored,” but also surprised. “Something unique about this award was that the semifinal round required video submissions of my teaching,” she explained. “There were no fancy setups—just my iPhone and my students, who took turns recording our regular lessons. It was a true team effort.”
What made the award especially meaningful, she shared, was knowing that the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics based its decision on what happens in her classroom every day. “It really took my breath away. It made me feel like someone sees how much I give to my students.”
That desire to grow has fueled her throughout her career. After being nominated but not selected as AACPS Teacher of the Year a few years ago, McDonald was motivated to keep striving. “I keep challenging myself professionally and learning from the people around me, especially my coworkers and students. I always want each school year to be better than the last.” Her advice to fellow educators is simple, but powerful: “Never stop learning.”
One of the most rewarding moments of the year for McDonald is Lothian’s annual Senior Walk, when graduating high school seniors, many of them her former fourth graders, return to walk the school’s halls one last time. “It’s the most incredible feeling to see my little fourth graders all grown up, choosing paths I helped influence. I get emotional every time,” she said. “Teachers have such a profound impact on children’s lives. It’s not something I take for granted.”
Established in 1895, (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
