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, DC. This is the third year in a row 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 (mailto:media_affairs@who.eop.gov) before 12 PM ET 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 PM 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 AM 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-Southeast 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