Howard County Public Schools Name Teacher, Principal Of The Year

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The principal of the year and teachers of the year recipients have been named by the Howard County Public School System.

Each recipient was named during surprise visits at their respective schools and will be recognized at an upcoming Howard County Board of Education meeting.

The award winners are:

• Principal of the Year: Lisa Smith, Hammond Middle School
• Teacher of the Year: Tyrone Page, Oakland Mills Middle School
• Teacher of the Year: Natalie Pretzello, Hammond Middle School

The three also are the HCPSS nominees for Washington Post Principal of the Year, Washington Post Teacher of the Year (Page) and Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of the Year (Pretzello).

2025 Principal of the Year: Lisa Smith, Hammond Middle School

Smith started her career in education as a reading and English teacher at Patuxent Valley Middle School. She later served as assistant principal at Dunloggin, Hammond and Lime Kiln middle schools before becoming principal of Clarksville Middle School in 2020. Smith returned to Hammond Middle School in 2022 as principal where she remains, the school district stated.

2025 Teacher of the Year: Tyrone Page, Oakland Mills Middle School

Page’s career at HCPSS began in 2015 as an elementary and secondary band intern at Centennial Lane Elementary and Clarksville Middle School. He went on to intern, teach and conduct in several Baltimore-area schools and music programs. In 2018, he returned to Howard County as the director of Bands at Oakland Mills Middle School. An accomplished saxophonist, Page also runs a private saxophone studio, the district shared.

2025 Teacher of the Year: Natalie Pretzello, Hammond Middle School

Pretzello joined HCPSS’ music program as a teacher in 2015 and currently serves as the band director and related arts instructional team leader at Hammond Middle School. She also serves as percussion director for HCPSS elementary honor and G/T bands and high school honor band. In addition, she co-conducts Hammond High School’s Summer Band Camp.