Forbes teacher in running for award

AMERICAN FORK — Cindy Chilcoat of Forbes Elementary will represent Alpine School District in the state Teacher of the Year competition

The Utah Teacher of the Year will be named later this summer.

Chilcoat, representing the central part of the district, was one of five educators selected. A 29-year veteran of the classroom, including 18 years in Utah, Chilcoat holds advanced degrees in math and reading. She trains other teachers and works with struggling readers as a literacy coach in addition to teaching 6th grade.

Other district teachers of the year are Tim Crandall of Hillcrest Elementary in Orem and Dolores "Chuck" Brown from Snow Springs Elementary in Saratoga Springs.

The junior high school district teacher of the year is Penney Gauchay of Oak Canyon Junior High in Orem and Sydney Hackford of Pleasant Grove High represents the high schools.

The committee made up of administrators and district employees made the selections that reflect the highest standards and quality in the district, Gary Seastrand, assistant superintendent said.

"Their students had a high degree of learning and achievement, they were well respected by their students' parents and their peers. Final selection was made after committee interviews," he said.

Every school except Lehi Elementary nominated a teacher, selection committee chairman Jim Star said. Those teachers became teacher of the year for their schools. Out of those 64 schools about 40 instructors applied to become teacher of the year for their area.

Teachers nominated include:

Elementary North

Alpine (Carolyn Hutchings)

Cedar Valley (Ann Fillmore)

Eaglecrest (Mary Ann Williamson)

Eagle Valley (Melinda Norman)

Meadow (Jackie Roberts)

Pony Express (Cindi Arnold)

Saratoga Shores (Rebecca Roberts)

Sego Lily (Gregg Hatch)

Westfield (Colleen Philipp)

Highland (Fonette Thompson)

Cedar Ridge (Brent Bown)

Deerfield (Colleen Nelson)

Freedom (Helen Carlton)