April 12, 2006

LANSING - Four state finalists for the 2006-07 Michigan Teacher of the Year Award were announced today by Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan.

The educators who have been selected as state finalists for the award, in alphabetical order, are:

• Kimberly Kyff, Detroit Public Schools, Fifth Grade Teacher at Jamieson Elementary School
  
• Judith Nixon, Eaton Rapids Public Schools, Spanish and Japanese Teacher at Eaton Rapids High School
  
• James “Ben” Roeder, Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools, Social Studies Teacher at Kimball High School
  
• Karen Stuard, Northville Public Schools, First Grade Teacher at Moraine Elementary School
  

“All four of the finalists possess both an incredible breadth of experience and a wide perspective on issues that directly impact children,” Flanagan said. “Any one of them easily could serve as Michigan’s next Teacher of the Year, and the final decision will be difficult for the select committee to make.”

Teachers are nominated by students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and school districts. Those teachers choosing to go forward in the process submit an application to regional coordinators who conduct a review process and forward the top three candidates to the state level. A diverse and independent panel, consisting of educators and parents, reviews and rates the applications of the regional finalists resulting in the list of state finalists.

A select committee will interview the final four candidates in April. An announcement will be made by the end of the school year naming the 2006-07 Michigan Teacher of the Year.

The Department of Education bestows this award annually to honor Michigan’s exemplary educators. As part of the award, the Department of Education will welcome the recipient as a staff member during her/his tenure as Michigan Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year also has a non-voting seat at the State Board of Education table.

For more information on the Michigan Teacher of the Program, access www.michigan.gov/mtoy.