Students at Cardinal Hickey Academy in Owings, Maryland, were called into an assembly during the school day on April 14, expecting something routine.
Instead, representatives from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Catholic Schools Office arrived with a surprise announcement.
Mary Beth Conte, a longtime Spanish and social studies teacher, had been named a 2026 Golden Apple Award winner, one of 10 educators recognized across the archdiocese for excellence in Catholic education. At a May 21 dinner, the 10 Golden Apple Award-winning teachers will be presented with a golden apple, and each will receive a $5,000 check from the Donahue Family Foundation, which sponsors the awards.
“This isn’t just a career. It’s a calling,” said principal Dawn Nazzaro. “Everything we do here is about Jesus Christ, and she lives that out every day.”
Each of her classes begins with prayer in Spanish. Younger students repeat after her, while older students recite prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary and Apostles’ Creed with growing confidence.
While Conte does not teach religion as a formal subject, she said her role as a Catholic school teacher includes integrating faith into daily instruction.
“We not only have to teach the subject, but we must find a way to bring living Christ into the classroom,” she wrote in her teacher essay that accompanied her nomination.
She plans for those moments in her lessons but remains attentive to opportunities that arise throughout the day.
In Spanish class, discussions about culture lead to conversations about traditions, worship and beliefs. In social studies, lessons on American history include the role of religion in the nation’s founding, including Maryland’s establishment as a place where Catholics could worship freely.
“I believe my role is to make sure our students realize that Christ is not only found in church or at Mass,” she wrote. “He is found in every aspect of our daily lives and always has been.”
Emma Jackson, an eighth grader, said Conte makes an effort to involve every student.
“She always tries to incorporate everybody in the classroom into her lessons,” Jackson said. “She lets us work through examples so we can learn better.”
Another eighth grader, Mylie Curry, also praised Conte’s approach to teaching, saying, “She is just very bubbly. She’s funny. She brings in what’s happening today and keeps it real.”
Eighth grader Juliette Garrett said Conte helps students navigate challenges without discouragement.
“She understands that Spanish is not easy for everyone,” Garrett said. “But she makes it fun, and if it doesn’t click, we can always try again.”
Conte said teaching a language also opens the door to conversations about respect and dignity.
“It gives me the opportunity to talk about equality and acceptance,” she said.
That message extends beyond language instruction and into how students treat one another.
“It’s not just about language,” she said. “If we’re going to be accepting of these children, why not these children over here that don’t speak English?”
Nazzaro said Conte’s impact is felt throughout the school.
“She is always available with parents, with staff, with me, and especially with the students,” she said. “She is present in everything.”
In a nomination letter, parent Stephanie Heller described Conte as a “devoted servant leader” whose impact reaches far beyond the classroom. She praised Conte’s “remarkable zest for teaching” that inspires students to genuinely love learning, calling her classroom “a place of energy, curiosity and joy.”
Heller pointed to the many ways Conte brings Spanish to life through songs, vocabulary activities, cultural projects as well as encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones by exploring new cultures.
“The academic results of her work speak volumes,” Heller wrote, noting that many students leave Cardinal Hickey Academy prepared to test out of Spanish I and even Spanish II.
But Heller emphasized that Conte’s influence extends beyond academic success.
“She instills confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning in her students,” she wrote.
Outside the classroom, Conte remains involved in the life of the school, supporting students at events and contributing behind the scenes. Heller highlighted her work producing the school yearbook, capturing moments throughout the year and often surprising families with images they did not know were being taken.
“She selflessly gives her time and talents,” Heller wrote.
As moderator of the National Junior Honor Society, Conte guides students in turning ideas into service, organizing food drives, volunteer efforts and outreach projects rooted in Catholic values. She also gives her time during the school day, helping coordinate tutoring sessions that connect older and younger students.
Through those efforts, Heller wrote, Conte teaches students “the importance of serving others with compassion and humility.”
Conte said she teaches faith through daily example.
“My faith is demonstrated in my love for my students. Every single one. Every single day.”
Her approach in the classroom reflects that same attentiveness. She adapts instruction to different learning styles, fosters peer support and challenges both beginner and advanced learners.
At the center of her teaching is a belief in each student’s potential.
“What I hope they take with them… is that they can do it,” she said. “They just have to learn to work hard, set goals for themselves, and achieve those goals.”
At Cardinal Hickey Academy, where 207 students are enrolled, that approach reflects the broader mission of Catholic education, which seeks to form students academically, spiritually and personally.
For Conte, the Golden Apple Award recognizes that mission lived out daily.
For her students, it affirms what they have experienced all along.
“If you ask any child who their favorite teacher is,” Nazzaro said, “they’ll tell you Mrs. Conte.”
Link to series with Golden Apple teacher profiles:
https://www.cathstan.org/series/2026-golden-apple-teachers-in-archdiocese-of-washington
