Patricia DiLeonardi said she's always wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn't until her second child was preparing to go to college that she finally decided to chase down the dream.

DiLeonardi was chosen as the 2012 Teacher of the Year for Carroll County in an awards ceremony Thursday night at the Board of Education.

DiLeonardi was awarded a $1,000 grant from the Carroll County Education Foundation to spend on a project of her choice. She was also given a plaque and a bag of gifts donated by the Carroll County business community. DiLeonardi is now in the running for the Maryland Teacher of the Year award.

There were eight finalists for the Teacher of the Year award, the other seven were:

• Anthony Cimino, Drama teacher, Liberty High School
• Janel Fosnot, Math teacher, Shiloh Middle School
• Deanne McGrath, Math teacher, West Middle School
• Thomas McHugh, English teacher, Century High School
• Patrick Rudolph, Technology Education teacher/Graphics/Yearbook, Century High School
• Mary Schlipper, Physical Education teacher, Mechanicsville Elementary School
• Marti Tomko, Earth Science teacher, West Middle School

The Rita Board Dowd Award for Outstanding Carroll County School Administrators was also presented at Thursday's award ceremony.

North Carroll High School Principal Kimberly Dolch and Robert Moton Elementary School Assistant Principal Darryl Robbins were presented with the Rita Board Dowd awards.

Dolch was recently named Maryland's Principal of the Year.

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