2007-08 teacher of the year to be named May 1


The 2007-08 North Carolina Teacher of the Year will be announced Tuesday night, May 1, during a banquet being held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 201 Harrison Oaks Blvd., Cary.

The actual announcement is expected to take place around 7:45 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 and excel academically. The winner will succeed the 2006-07 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Diana Beasley, a biology teacher at Hickory High School, Hickory Public Schools.

Finalists for the award are:

* North Central Region: Sonya Kiser, North Johnston High (Johnston County Schools);

* Northeast Region: James Bell, Chowan Middle (Edenton-Chowan Public Schools);

* Northwest Region: Sherrard Pearce, Mooresville High (Mooresville Graded Schools District);

* Southeast Region: Beth Howard, Dixon Elementary (Onslow County Schools);

* Southwest Region: Denise Andrews, North Belmont Elementary (Gaston County Schools);

* Sandhills/South Central Region: Bridget Johnson, Vass-Lakeview Elementary (Moore County Schools);

* Piedmont-Triad/Central Region: Shawn Watlington, Greensboro Middle College (Guilford County Schools); and

* West Region: Jerome Hughes, Asheville High (Asheville City Schools).

The 2007-08 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.