Mary Kay Connerton is a physical educator and wellness coordinator at Annapolis High School (AHS) in Annapolis, Maryland, where she’s a fierce advocate for student, staff and community wellness. Currently, she teaches ninth through 12th grade and staff wellness techniques for the classroom, which provides them tools for lifelong wellness practices. Connerton is a believer in addressing the whole child and that the foundation of success begins with being healthy in body and mind.

Connerton created her district’s first yoga course in response to students’ needs at AHS. The course morphed into a holistic wellness program that assists the school community with living healthfully, leading to a Wellness School of Distinction Award. This course and two subsequent courses are now offered at every high school in the district, with Connerton leading the teaching training program for teachers.

Outside of the classroom, Connerton co-leads the trauma team, wellness club and trauma informed wellness groups, which focus on healing and connection. She facilitates events to connect employees and the community with these resources. In addition, she pioneered the district’s first social emotional learning and wellness curriculum for 25,000 students with Johns Hopkins University and is currently co-authoring with the university.

Connerton received the 2020 Maryland Society of Health & Physical Education Friend Award. She earned a Master of Science in special education in 2010, a Bachelor of Arts in childhood education in 2008, both from State University of New York at Cortland, and an administrator certificate in 2018 from McDaniel College.