Indiana’s 2005 Teacher of the Year
to be Honored in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 14, 2005
CONTACT:
Marc Steczyk 317-232-6615
Cathy Danyluk 317-232-9150

Molly Seward, Indiana’s 2005 Teacher of the Year, will be honored, along with teachers of the year from across the nation, next week in Washington, D.C. The experience culminates on Wednesday, April 20, with a White House ceremony recognizing the yet-to-be-named 2005 National Teacher of the Year and all of the state teachers of the year.

Seward is a second grade teacher at Snacks Crossing Elementary School in Indianapolis in the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township.

“It is an honor and a humbling experience to represent the teachers of Indiana in Washington, D.C. Indiana teachers are dedicated and caring people who work tirelessly to ensure the success for all children,” said Seward. “I hope that, as the 2005 Indiana Teacher of the Year, I have the opportunity to highlight all the innovative and amazing things teachers are doing all over our great state.”

Nominations for the Teacher of the Year program are requested each year from all local school superintendents and accredited nonpublic school officials. State finalists are chose by a six-member committee established within the Department of Education. The committee is charged each year to select the Indiana Teacher of the Year and a runner-up.

The Indiana Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., the Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, the SMARTer Kids Foundation, and Scholastic Inc. Nationally, the program is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and Scholastic Inc.

For additional information about Seward and Indiana’s Teacher of the Year program, visit www.doe.in.gov/toy/welcome.html.