Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 12, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Kim Schmanke, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, 360-725-6015

Gov. Gary Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Honor State’s Teacher of the Year

Gov. Gary Locke and Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction, today honored Dennis Griner, a high school teacher at Garfield-Palouse High School in Whitman County, as the 2004 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

Locke and Bergeson congratulated Griner, the state's 42nd Teacher of the Year, and eight regional Teachers of the Year during an afternoon awards program in Olympia. The program is part of a national initiative to recognize exceptional elementary and secondary classroom educators.

Griner teaches history, driver's education and audio-visual communications at Garfield-Palouse. He has been an educator for 32 years. Griner also has been selected as one of four finalists to compete for the 2004 National Teacher of the Year.

"Great teachers are the soul of an enlightened society. We entrust in them the most precious thing we know in life - our children," Locke said. "They change lives every day, and make the world a better place - one student at a time, one day at a time."

Bergeson said, "Washington state is fortunate to have such an outstanding group of educators representing the teaching profession. They contribute their dedication, passion and excellent skills to our schools, and it is an honor to celebrate their accomplishments."

The governor and the superintendent honored the following regional Teacher of the Year finalists from the state's educational service districts (ESDs):

·Philip Brady, White Salmon Valley School District, ESD 112
·Amy Davis, Grandview School District, ESD 105
·Emily Garlich, Shelton School District, ESD 113
·Alison Faulkner, Central Kitsap School District, ESD 114
·Nancy Rosselli, Richland School District, ESD 123
·Vicki Taylor, Chelan School District, ESD 171
·Barbara Tibbits, Edmonds School District, ESD 189
·Jill Van Glubt, Lake Washington School District, ESD 121

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction administers the state's Teacher of the Year program with support from the private sector.

Established in 1963, the program aims to increase awareness of the professional classroom teacher and his or her contribution to the education of children, provide unique teaching and learning opportunities for chosen teachers of the year, facilitate interaction and communication between outstanding teachers, and establish public/private partnerships that will support, educate and honor regional and state teachers of the year.

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