The five finalists are: Sue Alkire, a science teacher at Romney Middle School in Hampshire County; Mary Kay Devono, a Title I teacher at West Milford Elementary School in Harrison County; Belinda Roberts, a mathematics teacher at Andrew Jackson Middle School in Kanawha County; Rebecca Steorts, an English Language Arts teacher at Bluefield High School in Mercer County; and Jonathan Averill, a Spanish/Social Studies teacher at Summers County High School in Summers County.
Past recipients, including Jeanne Gren of Monongalia County, also will be in attendance. Paying tribute to educators since 1964, the Teacher of the Year is the longest, ongoing awards program honoring classroom teachers.