Teacher of the Year finalists announced

Seven educators have been selected as finalists for the 2007 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. All seven regional winners will be invited to Governor Rounds’ Teacher Leadership Conference, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, in Pierre, where one of them will be revealed as the 2007 South Dakota Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations go to the 2007 Regional Teacher of the Year finalists:

• ESA Region 1: Joyce Carlson, Brookings School District

• ESA Region 2: Jacey Peters, Parker School District

• ESA Region 3: Charlotte Mohling, Wessington Springs School District

• ESA Region 4: Vanya Munce, Huron School District

• ESA Region 5: Callie Rech, Isabel School District

• ESA Region 6: Tracy Scott, Agar/Blunt/Onida School District

• ESA Region 7: Nicole Swigart, Rapid City School District

South Dakota has had an annual Teacher of the Year program since 1954. This year marks the first time that regional finalists have been selected. The regional finalists were chosen from all district-level Teachers of the Year submitted by school districts within each Education Service Agency, or ESA, region.

South Dakota’s Teacher of the Year goes on to represent the state at the national level. Barbara Dowling, Sioux Falls School District, is the 2006 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. In recognition of her achievement, Dowling received cash awards from the South Dakota Community Foundation and Citibank, a technology package from the SMARTer Kids Foundation, and the use of an automobile for one year from Billion Automotive.