Urbana Elementary School teacher named Frederick County Teacher of the Year

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — Being named Teacher of the Year is the most prestigious honor that Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) offers to its educators — and one Urbana Elementary School teacher exemplifies just what it takes to receive that honor.

When Ivette Taboas started teaching nearly 13 years ago, she never dreamed that she would be named FCPS’s Teacher of the Year.

“The caliber of teachers that we have in our county, and I would dare say they are the best of the best and in a school like Urbana, I can’t even begin to explain to you, the staff, the heart, the dedication that we have in this building and for me to be selected not only as Urbana elementary teacher of the year but as Frederick County, I have no words,” Taboas explained.

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Taboas is a multilingual education teacher at Urbana Elementary School. She often recalls times when she was a multi-language learner herself.

“It’s not about ABCs and 123s only, it’s about seeing them and recognizing that there is a child, individual children that… need to be addressed, loved, and cared for,” Taboas said.

Urbana Elementary School Principal Tracy Hilliard said Taboas getting Teacher of the Year is nothing surprising due to her plans to use the recognition to help students succeed.

“Ivette is someone that you want on your staff because she believes in every scholar, every student, every parent, and everyone from our community,” Hilliard said.

“She works well with others, collaboration is the key to her success, she believes everybody working together makes them feel like they have a sense of belonging and they do belong here at our school,” she continued.

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