Educator Of The Month: Josh Thompson

Josh Thompson, a sixth-grade math teacher at Magothy River Middle School (MRMS), athlete and sports enthusiast, realizes he’s in a unique position to help kids positively transition into middle school by fostering a healthy, inclusionary classroom culture. He credits former teachers and coaches with helping him become the educator and person he is today.

In just his 10th year of teaching, and his seventh year in Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), Thompson was nominated by MRMS Principal Lindsay Abruzzo to represent the school for the annual AACPS Teacher of the Year award.

“Josh is a teacher that goes above and beyond for his students day in and day out,” Abruzzo said. “He is always willing to help, and he gives 110 percent. Josh is an asset to any school he is in, but I am certainly glad he is an MRMS Marlin.”

Thompson said, “The nomination is humbling, especially considering there are lots of great staff here that have been teaching for a long time.”

Sixth grade is when Thompson feels many children hit their first challenges. “For many students entering middle school, they are not accustomed to not grasping a concept right away,” he said. “They haven’t yet learned perseverance, so when they face adversity, they can feel failure for the first time in school.”

Thompson is a 2009 graduate of Severna Park High School. He played football for the Falcons, as well as several recreational sports through the Greater Severna Park Athletic Association, also known as Green Hornets. He strives to create a classroom atmosphere where kids feel safe and included, as part of a team, so they can be successful.

“When kids tell me they don’t like math, but they like my class, I know that student will be successful,” Thompson said. “Half the middle-school battle is creating an environment where the kids want to come.”

He admitted there are parts of his job that he doesn’t like, but he does them because he loves to teach. In the same way, he wants students to understand that it’s OK not to get something right away.

“My first priority is to be supportive, remind them they have everything they need to be successful, but I am there to support,” Thompson said, insisting, “Yes! Math can be fun.”

Thompson was a good math student thanks to teachers like Kendra Schauppner from Severna Park Middle School, Mary Brierley from Severna Park High School, and longtime Severna Park sports coach Steve Anstett.

When he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, Thompson planned to enter law school. After a stint with AmeriCorps, he discovered his true passion for working with young people, which changed his career trajectory. He started teaching in Baltimore City while attending graduate school, after which he returned to Anne Arundel County. He chose math because it was the subject with the greatest educator need.

Thompson’s latest challenge will be in his new role as the MRMS athletic manager for the county’s new middle school athletics program, which will give students the opportunity to play a sport for their middle school and compete against other middle school teams in the county.

Thompson was one of 75 public educators nominated for AACPS Teacher of the Year. Although he was not named one of the semifinalists, he and the other nominees will be honored by the Education Foundation of AACPS on April 25 at the 39th annual Excellence in Education Awards, where the 2025 AACPS Teacher of the Year will be announced. The 2025 Teacher of the Year will then go on to represent Anne Arundel County in the Maryland State Teacher of the Year competition.