(Spotsylvania)- A Spotsylvania teacher is one of eight teachers in the running to be named State Teacher of the Year. State School Superintendent Steve Staples was at Freedom Middle this morning to make the surprise announcement to Spanish teacher Carolyn Kleinert. She was previously named Spotsylvania County Teacher of the Year. Only a few in the administration at Freedom knew the real reason for the assembly this morning. It was billed as a chance for the state superintendent to talk about great schools and great teachers.
The other seven 2017 Regional Teachers of the Year:
–Louise Thornton, a government teacher at Prince George High in Prince George County (Region 1)
–Toney McNair Jr., a music teacher at Indian River Middle in Chesapeake (Region 2)
–Heidi Trude, a French teacher at Skyline High in Warren County (Region 4)
–Crystal DeLong, a social studies teacher at Liberty High School in Bedford County (Region 5)
–Jason Ince, an agricultural education teacher at Chatham High in Pittsylvania County (Region 6)
–Beth Shell, an agricultural education teacher at Lee County Career and Technical Center in Lee County (Region 7)
–Katie McCann, a language arts and reading teacher at Appomattox Elementary in Appomattox County (Region 8)
Statewide, the teachers were selected from among candidates nominated by school divisions in each of the state’s eight superintendents’ regions. The candidates submitted portfolios highlighting their accomplishments, educational philosophies and community activities.
State Teacher of the Year will be announced on October 17 during a ceremony at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
