Marlena Murtagh, Visual Arts Teacher and Department Chair, is the 2025 Archdiocese of Baltimore (AOB) Teacher of the Year Nominee.
Ms. Murtagh is a steadfast voice for those less heard in our community. She is unwavering and courageous in advocating for justice and love for everyone. Her ability to be open and vulnerable with her students is one of the reasons her students rise to their very best and discover abilities and a voice that they didn’t know they had.
Now in her 10th year at Maryvale, Ms. Murtagh is the Visual Arts Department Chair moderator of the PRISM Club. She is a wonderful colleague and person.
The Maryvale community shared the below about Ms. Murtagh.
- She is an excellent teacher who recognizes that every student has the potential to find themselves and their passion in her classroom.
- She thinks outside the box and offers her students completely unique learning experiences each year.
- Students feel comfortable and safe in her classroom. She allows students to be their authentic selves and express it in their work.
- She has created courses that are widely popular with all students and even make Maryvale employees wish they could go back to High School.
- She is a lifelong learner who participates in professional development opportunities to grow as an educator and a person.
Students shared:
- She is always looking to help all her students and always provides a good laugh. She creates fun lesson plans that always keep her students engaged. She is simply the best.
- She has helped me continue to love art, and she is one of the reasons I have chosen to pursue an art career. Throughout all of the classes I have had with her, I have never once not had fun or felt unchallenged.
- She has had a large impact on my life. She has helped me find my passion and rediscover my love for the arts.
- She is so much more than just a photography teacher. Not only can you ask her what shutter speed to use with your camera, but she is always there to give advice in all realms of life, art or not. She has such a heart, soul, and passion that students are excited to learn from her, no matter their prior experience or abilities.
- First and foremost, she leads with compassion and empathy as a human and as a teacher. Follow that immediately with a sense of humor, brains, diligence, generosity, and, of course, creativity, and you can begin to understand what a wonderful human being she is.
- When she has an idea to do something, she is a force of nature. You can believe it is going to happen—her tenacity through any challenge is inspiring to witness.
Each year, the AOB requests nominations for the Teacher of the Year. They ask for a teacher who:
- is an expert in their field who guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence.
- collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success.
- deliverately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large.
- demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embody lifelong learning.
- expresses themselves in an engaging and clear way.
