2024-2025 MCPS Teacher of the Year Finalist: Carrie Kraynak

Carrie Kraynak is one of four teachers named as a finalist for the 2024-2025 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Teacher of the Year.
Kraynak is an English Language Development teacher and team leader at Flower Hill Elementary School. Nationally Board Certified, Kraynak implemented a targeted reading program for first grade students. She uses a range of strategies to support students’ language development and academic growth, which creates a supportive environment and enhances comprehension and language acquisition. She has also found innovative ways for Emerging Multilingual Learners (EMLs) to contribute to the school culture-by encouraging their participation in using their language skills on the daily morning announcements. Literacy scores among her first grade EML students increased from 42 percent to 62 percent during the 2022-2023 school year. In foundational literacy, Flower Hill’s performance outpaced the district’s by 16 percent, a testament to Kraynak’s influence in setting and achieving high standards. Her classroom was even observed by the U.S. Department of Education, which recognized her exemplary literacy instruction as rigorous.
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