Press Release
CCSSO Announces Four Finalists for National Teacher of the Year
Educators from FL, MD, NH and WA are Finalists for Nation’s Top Teaching HonorFor Immediate Release
Contact: Kate Dando: kated@ccsso.org /202-336-7034
Paul Ferrari: paulf@ccsso.org /202-312-6870
WASHINGTON - The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) announces today four finalists for the 2013 National Teacher of the Year. The National Teacher of the Year spends a year representing educators across the country and advocating on behalf of the teaching profession. The four finalists for National Teacher of the Year are:
- Jeffrey Charbonneau, a 9-12 grade chemistry, physics and engineering teacher, at Zillah High School in Zillah, Washington
- Rhonda Holmes-Blankenship, a 10-11 grade English teacher at Rising Sun High School in North East, Maryland
- Alex S. Lopes, a prekindergarten special education teacher at Carol City Elementary School in Miami-Dade County, Florida
- Heidi Welch, a 9-12 grade music teacher at Hillsboro-Deeing High School in Hillsboro, New Hampshire
The National Teacher of the Year Program is run by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Every year states each select a teacher of the year to participate in the National Teacher of the Year Program. A panel representing 15 national education organizations, convened by CCSSO, chose the four finalists from the 2013 state teachers of the year. The selection committee then personally interviews each finalist and selects the National Teacher of the Year. In April the National Teacher will be announced by CCSSO. The President of the United States recognizes the National Teacher each year in a White House ceremony.
Learn more about the four finalists here, and learn more about the National Teacher of the Year program here.