Alpine kindergarten teacher is Utah's teacher of the year

SALT LAKE CITY — Alpine kindergarten teacher Gay Beck has been named Utah's 2011 Teacher of the Year.

The announcement by State Superintendent Larry Shumway came at a banquet Friday evening honoring teachers.

Beck, who teaches at Highland Elementary School in west Highland, was awarded a check for $10,000, an interactive white board to use in her classroom, a classroom amplification system and a laptop computer.

"We can always count on Gay to be positive in all she does," said Highland Elementary principal Reed Hodson. "Her enthusiasm is contagious and generous to the school community. Not only does she teach to perfection in the classroom, she manages to find time to do many extras."

Beck will go on to a national teacher of the year competition in Dallas and will meet with President Barack Obama in Washington. She'll also get to attend space camp in Alabama next summer.

Sheri W. Heiter, a math teacher at Weber High School in Pleasant View, was named first runner-up and received a check for $5,000. Rob Gardner, a history teacher at Highland High School in Salt Lake City, was named second runner-up and received a check for $3,000.

Beck was chosen from 20 nominees sent in from local school districts and charter schools by a committee with representatives from the Utah State Office of Education, superintendents and the Utah PTA. Beck succeeds the 2010 Teacher of the Year, Mary Jane Morris, a reading teacher at Northwest Middle School in Salt Lake City.

e-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com