Angela Wilson

ARLINGTON, VA — January 19, 2012 — Angela Wilson, the 2012 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Teacher of the Year, was selected today by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) as one of the four finalists for the 2012 National Teacher of the Year.

Wilson, an English and Language Arts teacher at Vicenza Middle School in Italy, was selected from among 14 district nominees as DoDEA's 2012 Teacher of the Year last fall. Three other teachers were also selected as the finalists for this year's award:

• Gay Barnes—2012 Alabama Teacher of the Year
  Barnes is a first grade teacher at Horizon Elementary School in Alabama.
• Rebecca Lynn Mieliwocki—2012 California Teacher of the Year
  Mieliwocki is a seventh grade English teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School.
• Alvin Aureliano Davis—2012 Florida Teacher of the Year
  Davis is a music teacher at Miramar High School in Florida.

With more than 11 years of teaching experience, Wilson has taught in public schools in Utah and Illinois and in DoDEA schools in Korea, Turkey, and Italy. She is a 1997 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Western Illinois University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She also holds a Master's Degree in Education from Southern Utah University.

Wilson's selection marks the first time a DoDEA teacher has been selected as one of the four finalists. A panel of educators, representing 14 national education organizations, chose the finalists from the 2012 state teachers of the year in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and four U.S. extra-state jurisdictions.

Marilee Fitzgerald, DoDEA Director, congratulated Wilson for being named as one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year and expressed her thoughts as Wilson moves forward in the competition.

"We are so very proud of Angela and we are thrilled that she's been named as one of the four finalists for the 2012 National Teacher of the Year recognition," Ms. Fitzgerald said. "This nomination marks a milestone for DoDEA because it's the first time one of our teachers has been among the four finalists. Angela is committed to teaching and dedicated to providing our students with the best possible learning experience. She is an example of the quality and commitment all DoDEA teachers have to our students and to education."

The National Teacher of the Year Program is the oldest and most prestigious awards program for teachers in the country. It is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), is sponsored by the ING Foundation and Target, in partnership with the University of Phoenix and People to People Ambassador Programs.

The CCSSO is a non partisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and five U. S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, congress, and the public.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten — 12th grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Guam, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.