The Arch Coal Foundation honored 12 outstanding West Virginia classroom teachers today with Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards. It is the state's longest running, privately sponsored teacher recognition program.
Announcement of the teachers receiving a 2012 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award was made by Mr Steven F Leer, Arch Coal chairman and chief executive officer. He was accompanied by West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee.
The 2012 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award recipients are:
- Dr Teresa Baxter, North Marion High School, Farmington
- Tabby Beall, Gilmer County High School, Glenville
- Linda L Berg , Scott Teays Elementary School, Scott Depot
- Mary K Blaker, Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg
- Teresa D Brown, Craigsville Elementary School, Craigsville
- Lee Anne Burton, Monongah Elementary School, Monongah
- Sonda Folk, Cheesebrough North Elementary School, Morgantown
- Bill Gibson, Morgantown High School, Morgantown
- Sheila B Leach, Huntington High School, Huntington
- Mary McClure, Cabell Midland High School
- McClung Scarbrough Nicholas, County Career Technical Center, Craigsville
- Debra A. Sowards, Scott Teays Elementary, Scott Depot
Mr Leer said that "We predict that Arch Coal will need to hire almost 2,000 new employees in the next five years as global energy markets surge once again. About half of those new employees will be in West Virginia. We're counting on these award-winning teachers and their colleagues to make sure that the students who come through their classes are well educated and well-prepared. Arch Coal and the rest of the business community owe a huge debt of gratitude to great teachers and we will be relying on them to an even greater degree in the future.”
"With excellent classroom teachers, our children learn to compete and excel in today's increasingly complex world. The teachers we honor as Achievement Award recipients are examples of the best of the best educators in the state's classrooms, and they deserve our thanks and admiration."
The 12 teachers collectively have more than 250 years of classroom experience, one doctorate, 10 masters, and numerous additional years of post graduate studies. Arch Coal Foundation officials said almost 600 nominations were made. The public nominates teachers, and a blue-ribbon panel of the teachers' peers and previous recipients of the award review applications and make the award selections each year.