October 28, 2008
Director of Communications
(804) 371-2420
Julie Grimes
Public Information Officer
(804) 225-2775
Stephanie A. Doyle, a sixth-grade history teacher at Breckinridge Middle School in Roanoke and the commonwealth's Region 6 Teacher of the Year, was named the 2009 Virginia Teacher of the Year Friday evening in Richmond. Doyle was selected from the eight Virginia 2009 Regional Teachers of the Year announced in September. She will be the commonwealth's nominee in the Council of Chief State School Officers' National Teacher of the Year program, which is sponsored by ING Foundation.
"Stephanie Doyle is a shining example of Virginia's many highly qualified, caring teachers who challenge and inspire their students," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. "Her students are the benefactors of her passion for U.S. history."
Doyle has taught at Breckinridge Middle School for the past four of her eight years in Roanoke. As the Region 6 Teacher of the Year, she represents Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Covington, Craig County, Danville, Floyd County, Franklin County, Henry County, Martinsville, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem public schools.
In recognition of her selection as 2009 Virginia Teacher of the Year, Doyle received a $5,000 award, an engraved crystal apple and a ring from the Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation. She also received $2,500 from Richmond law firm Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen; a classroom technology package from SMARTerKids Foundation and Street & Company Audio Visual; educational opportunities from several public and private colleges and universities; and flowers from Strange's Florists.
The other seven regional teachers of the year received $1,000 awards from the Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation, offers of educational benefits from several public and private colleges and universities, and lapel pins from National Quality Products.
Doyle was selected after being interviewed by a committee that included representatives of professional and educational associations, the business community and 2008 Virginia Teacher of the Year Thomas R. Smigiel Jr. of Norfolk.
The 2009 National Teacher of the Year will be announced next spring in a White House ceremony. Two previous Virginia teachers of the year — Mary V. Bicouvaris in 1989 and B. Philip Bigler in 1998 — have gone on to become National Teacher of the Year.
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