Clara Allsup named Prince George's County Teacher of the Year for 2026-2027

Clara Allsup was named Prince George’s County Public Schools’ 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year, putting a classroom English teacher from International High School at Langley Park at the center of the county’s top education honor.

PGCPS made the announcement April 16 at the University of Maryland, College Park, and said Allsup will now represent Prince George’s County in the Maryland State Teacher of the Year competition this fall. The recognition came with a three-year leased vehicle from Pohanka Automotive Group and NAI Michael, a prize that underscored the district-wide spotlight on the winning teacher.

Allsup teaches English to ninth- and 10th-grade multilingual learners at International High School at Langley Park, where she has spent nearly eight years serving one of the county’s most diverse student populations. Her selection gives families in Langley Park a visible example of what strong classroom leadership can look like: a teacher working daily with students who are building English skills while also keeping pace with high school coursework.

Her work extends beyond a single classroom. Allsup serves as Recruitment and Intake Committee chair and as the school’s master scheduler, roles that shape how new students enter the building and how their days are organized. At a school like International High School at Langley Park, those decisions can determine whether multilingual learners start on solid footing or get lost in the shuffle.

PGCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph said Allsup “inspires curiosity and challenges her students every day,” while IHLP Acting Principal William Shulman called her “the quintessential educator” and “a cornerstone of the school community.” Those descriptions fit a teacher whose impact reaches beyond lesson plans and into the daily structure of the school.

Allsup’s academic background also reflects that focus. She holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Maryland, and she is pursuing a Doctor of Education in School System Leadership for TESOL. She earned National Board Certification in English as a New Language for Adolescents in 2024, adding formal recognition to nearly eight years of work with multilingual teenagers.

Rebekah Benson-Flannery of College Park Academy was named first runner-up, and Dr. Julita Lizardo of Largo High School was named second runner-up. Both are English teachers and National Board Certified educators, placing three highly accomplished classroom leaders among the county’s finalists.

PGCPS also thanked Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, American College of Education, Target and The Hotel at the University of Maryland for supporting the celebration. For the Langley Park school community, Allsup’s win turns a familiar face in the hallway into the county’s standard-bearer for the year ahead.