The 2006-07 North Carolina Teacher of the Year will be announced tonight, May 2, during a banquet being held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 201 Harrison Oaks Blvd., Cary. The actual announcement is expected to take place around 7:30 p.m.
The eight regional representatives vying for the honor are all dedicated and highly skilled teachers who have proven capable of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. The winner will succeed the 2005-06 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Wendy Miller, a K-2 elementary teacher at James W. Smith Elementary School, Craven County Schools.
Finalists for the award are:
* North Central Region: William “Bill” Ferriter, language arts/social studies teacher, Salem Middle School, Wake County Schools;
* Northeast Region: Grady “Coleman” Bailey, Jr., science teacher, D.H. Conley High School, Pitt County Schools;
* Northwest Region: Diana Beasley, biology teacher, Hickory High School, Hickory City Schools;
* Southeast Region: James Strope, history teacher, Southwest High School, Onslow County Schools;
* Southwest Region: Bradley “Luke” Hyatt, health and physical education teacher, Peachland-Polkton Elementary School, Anson County Schools;
* Sandhills/South Central Region: Debra Stuckey, language arts teacher, Lumberton Jr. High School, Public Schools of Robeson County;
* Piedmont-Triad/Central Region: Shayne Madison, kindergarten teacher, Easton Elementary School, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools; and
* West Region: Marianne Leek, English teacher, Hayesville High School, Clay County Schools.
The 2006-07 Teacher of the Year will receive a one-time stipend of $7,500, a brand new personal automobile (thanks to the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association), a technology package from SMARTer Kids Foundation, a trip to the National Teacher of the Year conference, and an international trip through the NC Center for International Understanding. In addition to being a full-time ambassador for education, the state Teacher of the Year also serves a two-year term as advisor to the State Board of Education.
The Public Schools of North Carolina and the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association sponsor the North Carolina Teacher of the Year Program. For more information, please contact the NCDPI’s Communications division at 919/807-3450.