On the teacher

of the year application, educators must answer questions regarding their

teaching practices, philosophies and goals. The applications are reviewed

year's Teacher of the Year. Teachers submitting the applications receiving

the top three total scores become the finalists for one of education's

highest honors.

While being

selected as a finalist is no easy feat, the process to determine who will

become teacher of the year is even tougher. Each finalist is observed

in his or her classroom by the four judges. Judges carefully watch how

the teachers interact with their students and note ways in which they

foster a positive and challenging learning environment.

After the observation,

the judges interview each finalist. During the interview process, the

teachers can talk about their teaching philosophies, profession and future

goals and aspirations. Based on the information gathered from the observations

and interviews, judges individually score each finalist. The educator

with the highest total score becomes the Teacher of the Year.

The winner

of this year's honor will find out April 16 during a special banquet and

ceremony to honor all 23 teachers of the year from each of the county's

schools. The banquet will be at Flat Creek Baptist Church at 7 p.m.