2019 Teacher Of The Year Nominees Down To 5

CONCORD – Five New Hampshire teachers have been named finalists for the 2019 NH Teacher of the Year award. The selection committee made the announcement to Aaron Blais of Exeter High School, Lori Christerson of Bishop Brady High School in Concord, Alice Donahoe of James Mastricola Elementary in Merrimack, Allison Leach of Spaulding High School in Rochester, and Keith Noyes of Belmont Middle School this week, according to Lori Kincaid, the coordinator of the program. Earlier this year, 23 teachers were nominated and feted in April at an event in Concord by the New Hampshire Department of Education as part of the annual program.

At that event, the teachers displayed the work they and their students were performing and shared ideas about education. The list was then narrowed to eight. Subsequent interviews and site visits to schools were held in May by Kincaid, Christine Brennan, the deputy commission of the NH DOE, and other members of the selection committee.

“New Hampshire citizens would be proud of these teachers who have clearly mastered their practice of educating our students,” Brennan said. “During my site visits, I found students that were engaged, and staff and administrators speaking highly of the nominees. These teachers have very high expectations for themselves and their students.”

The next steps in the selection process include presentations and speeches featuring what message they would offer, as a leader for educators across the state, and filing a national application packet.

The eventual winner in New Hampshire will be considered for the National Teacher of the Year Award, a program established by the Council of Chief State School Officers back in 1952.