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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Idaho honors math teacher

She’ll represent state at the national level

Sacajawea Junior High School teacher Kelli Smith, of Lewiston, was named the Idaho Teacher of the Year on Tuesday, selected from more than 15,000 teachers.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Staff And Wire Reports

A Lewiston junior high school teacher was named Idaho’s 2010 teacher of the year, the state Department of Education announced Tuesday.

Kelli Smith, a math teacher at Sacajawea Junior High School, will receive about $20,000 in cash and donated gifts and will represent Idaho in the National Teacher of the Year contest, an Education Department news release said.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said Smith works to improve student achievement by illustrating the “real-life applications” of their classroom lessons.

Smith will receive $1,000 from the Department of Education, $16,000 in technology equipment, software and training from the SMARTer Kids Foundation and other gifts.

The Idaho Teacher of the Year program began in 1959.

School districts and charter schools can nominate one teacher for the program annually, with the winner chosen by a selection committee representing teachers, education leaders, parents and legislators.