HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak today announced the 30 semifinalists who will vie for the prestigious title of 2011 Teacher of the Year.

"Pennsylvania teachers represent some of the best educators in the nation," Zahorchak said. "We delight in the opportunity to honor these exemplary educators, who invest their time, hard work and energy to ensure that their students succeed."

The instructor selected as Pennsylvania's Teacher of the Year will serve as a spokesperson for teachers across the state and have the unique opportunity to represent the best in the education field.

Teachers were nominated by students, parents, colleagues or community members. A committee of former award recipients and past finalists select 30 semifinalists. From these 30 nominees the committee will chose 12 finalists.

The winner will be announced in October at the annual Teacher of the Year celebration in Harrisburg and will be Pennsylvania's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year. The national winner will be named in the spring of 2011.

Michelle Switala, a mathematics teacher at Pine-Richland School District in Allegheny County, was named Pennsylvania's 2010 Teacher of the Year.

Pennsylvania has participated in the Teacher of the Year program since 1965. The program is co-sponsored by the state Department of Education and the Pennsylvania chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year.

Media contact: Leah Harris, 717-783-9802

NOTE TO EDITORS: A list of the finalists for the 2011 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year follows:

Linda Arricale, Pennsbury School District

Robin Bayliff, Schuykill Haven Area School District

Matthew Boice, Quaker Valley School District

Sally Bovell, Great Valley School District

Timothy Chelednik, Brockway Area School District

Jeffrey Chou, Abington School District

Michael Cioffi, Williamsport Area School District

John Dolphin, Pine-Richland School District

Thor R. Edmiston, Midd-West School District

Adrienne Floro, Quaker Valley School District

Michele Pavlov Fowkes, Upper Perkiomen School District

Melissa Fulmer, West Mifflin Area School District

Nathan Grippin, West Perry School District

Carol A. Guogas, New Hope-Solebury School District

Angela D. Homan, Penns Valley School District

Thomas Joyce, Pine-Richland School District

Kathryn Kasten, Bethel Park School District

Carin J. Liberati, Pine-Richland School District

Diane Lupia, Mechanicsburg Area School District

Molly Masser, Northern Lebanon School District

Kimberly D. McCoid, Pine-Richland School District

Kimberly McWherter, Derry Area School District

Cyndi Page, Abington Heights School District

Jennifer Jankowski Pavlin, Pine-Richland School District

Stephanie L. Ripka, Penns Valley School District

Dede Rittman, North Allegheny School District

Karen Shaffran, Cheltenham Township School District

Jaclyn Sheaffer, Midd-West School District

Leann Starner, South Western School District

Stephanie Staub, Upper Adams School District

Gretchen Stoddard, Northern Lebanon School District

Dr. Mark P. Thomas, Upper Perkiomen School District

Mairi Cooper Thompson, Fox Chapel Area School District

Laura S. Tobias, Penns Valley School District

Shawn Walk, Quaker Valley School District

Paul Wright, Radnor Township School District

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

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