NEA congratulates member Jeff Charbonneau as 2013 National Teacher of the Year
WASHINGTON - April 23, 2013 -
WASHINGTON—NEA member and teacher Jeff Charbonneau has been named the 2013 National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Charbonneau, a science teacher at Zillah High School in the Yakima Valley, is the first winner from Washington State since 2007. Charbonneau works to make difficult subjects like chemistry, physics, and engineering more accessible to his students by creating interactive learning experiences and fosters “self-confidence, academic success, collaboration and dedication within my classroom, school, and greater community.”
Charbonneau and the 2013 State Teachers of the Year awardees were recognized by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House today. The other three finalists for NTOY were English teacher Rhonda Holmes-Blankenship from Maryland, special education teacher Alex S. Lopes from Florida, and music teacher Heidi Welch from New Hampshire.
“Jeff works so hard to raise the confidence of his students not just in science, but in everything they do. He wants the best for all his students and understands the importance of challenging and engaging them. We’re proud to have Jeff as an NEA member and leader as he puts a great face to the millions of NEA members who bring their very best to their classrooms every day for their students,” says National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel.
Charbonneau is a National Board Certified Teacher, and currently serves as co-president of the Zillah Education Association and is a member of the Washington Education Association as well as NEA.
Washington Education Association President Mary Lindquist says Charbonneau is “a great example of the well-qualified and dedicated educators we have in Washington. He is a leader in both the classroom and the teaching profession.”
This year marks the 63rd anniversary of the National Teacher of the Year Program, which honors educators representing the teaching profession as their State Teacher of the Year. This prestigious program allows teachers from across the country to collaborate with policymakers at every level and advocate on behalf of the teaching profession.
Follow NEA’s coverage of National Teacher Day at nea.org/teacherday.
Follow NEA at twitter.com/neamedia.
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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing
more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.
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