Sherry (Beth) Brown, a language arts teacher at Grundy County High School in Coalmont, Tenn., has been named winner of the California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, according to a news release.

A total of 36 educators will be honored at the NEA Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Education - known as the Academy Awards of public education - in February in Washington, D.C., the release stated.

"We give these awards annually to honor and promote excellence in education and to elevate the profession," said Harriet Sanford, president and CEO of the NEA Foundation.

"Educating our youth is so critically important. California Casualty is proud to partner with the NEA Foundation to pause and celebrate excellence in teaching," said Beau Brown, chairman and CEO of California Casualty.

Brown was nominated by the Tennessee Education Association, the National Education Association's state affiliate in Tennessee. Each recipient's school will receive a $650 award.

Five finalists will be selected to receive $10,000 cash awards, and one will be named the nation's top educator and receive an additional $25,000.