Mayfield Elementary SchoolA Cleveland, Tenn., elementary teacher is a finalist for the Tennessee Department of Education's 2013-14 Teacher of the Year award.
State officials announced that Mayfield Elementary School's Christy Duncan is among nine finalists for the award program, which is sponsored in partnership with the Niswonger Foundation. The foundation hosts a banquet for award winners and provides a monetary award to encourage professional development, graduate study, higher student outcomes and mentoring.
The final winner will represent Tennessee in the National Teacher of the Year competition. To qualify, candidates must have been teaching full time for at least five years, have a proven record of using creative, research-based teaching strategies resulting in measurable achievement and be effective school and community leaders, according to a news release.
A panel of educators from across the state scored applications to identify the finalists.
A winner in each elementary, middle and high school will be selected this fall.