Newnan High School science teacher Kelley Finger is Coweta County's 2005 Teacher of the Year.

Finger, Donald White of Northgate High School and Lynn Skinner of East Coweta High School were the three finalists for this year's award, said school system public information officer Dean Jackson.

Jackson said this year's finalists for the first time were from all three high schools and each taught math or science.

"It's really rare that it would work out this way," he added.

The awards ceremony was held at the Coweta County Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts and featured school board chairman Mitch Powell as master of ceremonies.

Finger will now compete with other teachers around the state for state honors.

Jackson pointed out that Coweta County has good luck in the state competition. "We're the only school system in the state that has three teachers of the year," he said.

In 1993, Ruth Hill Elementary School teacher Nancy Royal won top awards, while Evans Middle School's Jamie Lipscomb won the award in 1997. In 2003, Arnall's Lorraine Johnson won the award.