President Obama, Dr. Jill Biden to Honor Teachers of the Year

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, President Obama will honor the 2011 National Teacher of the Year and State Teachers of the Year, thanking them for their hard work and dedication each and every day in the classroom. The President believes that the education of our children is critical to our nation’s success as we compete in a 21st century global economy. We must make the investments in education and continue to inspire innovation, raise graduation rates, and ultimately out-educate our global competitors.

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Jill Biden, an educator of 30 years, will host a reception honoring the 2011 State Teachers of the Year at the Vice President’s residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. This is the third consecutive year that Dr. Biden will host this group of accomplished teachers at the Naval Observatory. Portions of this event will be pooled press.

The National Teacher of the Year is chosen from among the State Teachers of the Year by a national selection committee representing the major national education organizations convened by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Members of the media who would like to cover the Teacher of the Year ceremony must contact media_affairs@who.eop.gov before 12 p.m. EDT Monday, May 2. Members of the media who do not have a White House hard pass must also submit their full name, date of birth, social security number, gender, country of birth, country of citizenship and current city and state of residence.

MONDAY, MAY 2

DR. JILL BIDEN
will host a reception and deliver remarks honoring the 2011 National Teachers of the Year finalists
3:30 p.m. EDT
U.S. Naval Observatory
Portions of this event will be pooled press

TUESDAY, MAY 3

THE PRESIDENT
will deliver remarks honoring the Teacher of the Year
11:25 a.m. EDT
Rose Garden
Open Press

The 2011 State Teachers of the Year:

Alabama

Phil Rodney Wilson
Ogletree Elementary School
Music, 1-5

Alaska

Lorrie Heagy
Glacier Valley Elementary School
Music and Library, K-5

American Samoa

Gingerlei Maga Uili
Lauli'i Elementary School
Mathematics, 7

Arizona

Amanda McAdams
Apollo High School
English, 10

Arkansas

Kathy Powers
Raymond and Phyllis Simon
Intermediate School
Reading, Language Arts, 5-6

California

Darin Curtis
Tierra Del Sol Middle School
Physical Education, 8

Colorado

Michelle Line Pearson
Hulstrom Options School K-8
Language Arts, Social Studies, 6-8

Connecticut

Kristen Ann Record
Frank Scott Bunnell High School
Physics, 9-12

Delaware

Joseph P. Masiello
Cab Calloway School of the Arts
English, 6

Department of Defense Education Activity

Angelica L. Jordan
Mannheim Elementary School
Spanish, Elementary

District of Columbia

Jon Nathaniel Rolle
Friendship Public Charter School-Southea st Elementary Campus
Elementary, 3

Florida

Cheryl Conley
Osceola Magnet Elementary School
Elementary, 4

Georgia

Pamela Lynch Williams
Appling County High School
Social Sciences, 9-12

Hawaii

Kristen Lum Brummel
Noelani Elementary School
Elementary, 4

Idaho

Stefani S. Cook
Rigby High School
Business Education, 10-12

Illinois

Annice M. Brave
Alton High School
English, Journalism, 11-12

Indiana

Stacy A. McCormack
Penn High School
Chemistry, Physics, General Science, 11-12

Iowa

Molly Boyle
Brookview Elementary School
Reading, 3

Kansas

Curtis Chandler
Wamego Middle School
Language Arts, 8

Kentucky

Erika Schmelzer Webb
East Jessamine High School
English/Language Arts, 11

Louisiana

Julia Williams
Lafayette High School
Mathematics, 9-11

Maine

Shelly Moody
Williams Elementary School
Elementary, 3-4 Looping

Maryland

Michelle M. Shearer
Urbana High School
Chemistry, 10-12

Massachusetts

Floris Wilma Ortiz
Amherst Regional Middle School
ESL, 7-8

Michigan

Matinga E. Ragatz
Grand Ledge High School
Social Studies, World Languages, 9-12

Minnesota

Ryan M. Vernosh
Maxfield Magnet School
Elementary, 5

Mississippi

Brad A. Shonk
Gorenflo Elementary School
Mathematics, 4

Missouri

Robert Becker
Kirkwood High School
Chemistry, 10-12

Montana

Paul Andersen
Bozeman High School
Biology, 9-12

Nebraska

Robert E. Feurer
North Bend Central Public Schools
Science, 7, 11-12

Nevada

Cheryl Macy
Carson High School
English, 9-12

New Hampshire

Angie C. Miller
Holderness Central School
Language Arts, 6-8

New Jersey

Danielle Kovach
Tulsa Trail Elementary School
Elementary, 3

New Mexico

Diana S. Fesmire
Chaparral Middle School
Mathematics, 6

New York

Jeffry Peneston
Liverpool High School
Earth Science, 9

North Carolina

Jennifer Joyner Facciolini
Midway High School
Social Studies, 9-12

North Dakota

Karen Jaclyn Toavs
Williston Middle School
Language Arts, 8

Northern Mariana Islands

Raena S. Bermudes
Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School
Elementary, 3

Ohio

Natalie Y. Wester
Gearity Professional Development School
Elementary, 3

Oklahoma

Elizabeth Smith
Byng Junior High School
Reading, 7

Oregon

Colleen M. Works
Corvallis High School
U.S. History, Government, Sociology, 9-12

Pennsylvania

Jeffrey S. Chou
Highland Elementary School
Elementary, 6

Rhode Island

Shannon G. Donovan
Scituate High School
Science, 9-12

South Carolina

Kelly Hall Nalley
Fork Shoals School
Spanish, 2-5

South Dakota

Susan Turnipseed
Camelot Intermediate School
Technology, 4

Tennessee

Cheryl D. Deaton
Pigeon Forge Primary School
Reading, Math, Social Studies, 4

Texas

Daniel Leija
Esparza Elementary School
Math and Science, 5

Utah

Gay Beck
Highland Elementary School
Elementary, K

Vermont

Jennifer Erin Lawson
Vergennes Union High School
Language Arts and Social Studies, 7-8

Virgin Islands

Daniela C. Roumou
Lockhart Elementary School
Elementary, 4

Virginia

LaTonya E. Waller
Lucille M. Brown Middle School
Science, 6, 8

Washington

Jay W. Maebori
Kentwood High School
Language Arts, 10-12

West Virginia

Drema McNeal
Park Middle School
Language Arts, 6

Wisconsin

Maureen Look-Ainsworth
Horning Middle School
Science, 8

Wyoming

Laurie Lynn Graves
Big Horn Elementary School
Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, 3