2011 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Finalists Named

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak today announced the 12 finalists who will compete for the title of 2011 Teacher of the Year.

"This year's finalists represent the best of Pennsylvania's great teachers. They go above and beyond expectations," Zahorchak said. "The department relishes the opportunity to recognize our teachers, who dedicate themselves to one of the greatest and most rewarding professions."

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

Teachers were nominated by students, parents, colleagues or community members. A committee of former Teachers of the Year and past finalists first selected 30 semi-finalists and then narrowed the list to 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.  That honor will be bestowed in the spring of 2012.

Michelle Switala, a mathematics teacher at Pine-Richland School District in Allegheny County, is 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

Editor's Note: A list of the finalists for the 2011 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year follows:

Timothy Chelednik, Brockway Area School District

Jeffrey Chou, Abington School District

Adrienne Flor, Quaker Valley School District

Michele Pavlov Fowkes, Upper Perkiomen School District

Angela D. Homan, Penns Valley School District

Thomas Joyce, Pine-Richland School District

Diane W. Lupia, Mechanicsburg Area School District

Kimberly McWherter, Derry Area School District (Westmoreland County)

Cyndi Page, Abington Heights School District

Jaclyn Sheaffer, Midd-West School District

Gretchen Stoddard, Northern Lebanon School District

Paul Wright, Radnor Township School District

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education