Kimberly Oliver, kindergarten teacher at Broad Acres Elementary School, has been named one of seven finalists in the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition for 2005-2006 by the Maryland State Department of Education. Oliver and finalists from six other counties will be interviewed by a panel of judges as a part of the final selection process for the Maryland Teacher of the Year. Announcement of the winner will be made at a dinner and reception at Martin's West in Baltimore County on October 7, 2005.


Oliver is credited with having a major role in the instructional design of the restructuring of Broad Acres. As a result of declining test scores, Montgomery County Public Schools worked to restructure Broad Acres internally beginning with the 2001-2002 school year. As a kindergarten teacher and team leader, Oliver was recognized as always one of the first teachers to offer to help. At the end of the third year of the restructuring, Broad Acres students achieved Adequate Yearly Progress, meeting or exceeding all requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act for the 2003 and 2004 school years.


Oliver has achieved certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Through her leadership in professional development, she has encouraged other teachers at Broad Acres pursuing certification. A graduate of Hampton University, with an M.Ed. in elementary education from Wilmington College, Oliver has been a kindergarten teacher at Broad Acres since 2000.