BANGOR, Maine — The Maine Department of Education announced Thursday that the field of potential teacher of the year award winners has narrowed to eight.
The semifinalists are:
— Cumberland County: Talya Edlund of Pond Cove Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth.
— Franklin County: Brenda LaVerdiere of Academy Hill School in Wilton.
— Hancock County: Mickie Flores of Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School.
— Lincoln County: Jennifer Wright Gregg of Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta.
— Penobscot County: Angela McLaughlin of Glenburn Elementary School.
— Piscataquis County: Mia Morrison of Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft.
— Washington County: Ben Brigham of Shead High School in Eastport
— York County: Nick Wilson of Biddeford High School.
These eight will continue through an intensive selection process that includes professional portfolio reviews and oral presentations in front of review panels made up of past teacher of the year award winners, school administrators, Department of Education staff, and representatives of Maine education and business organizations.
The pool will be narrowed to three finalists who will be interviewed by a committee and be visited at their school before the winner is announced.
In May, the Department of Education announced the top teacher for the year in each of Maine’s 16 counties. For information about those teachers, visit www.mainetoy.org/2015-county-teachers-of-the-year.html.
Educate Maine, a business organization geared toward supporting quality education and workforce development in Maine, administers and manages the program on behalf Maine Department of Education.
The 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year will be announced during a surprise school assembly in October, according to the Department of Education.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.