History of Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year

The National Teacher of the Year program began in 1952 and continues as the oldest, most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Teacher of the Year was formed in 1995. National Teacher of the Year works with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to support the program by providing services and materials to select and honor the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

PDE is a non-voting member of the National Teacher of the Year, and along with the executive board, provides direction for the program selection process, funding and guidance for the annual teachers’ forumand technical assistance to Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year once selected.

Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Past Winners
Year / Name / District
2013 / Ryan Devlin / Brockway Area School District
2012 / Tricia Miller / Penns Valley Area School District
2011 / Jeffery Chou / Abington School District
2010 / Michelle Switala / Pine-Richland School District
2009 / Rebecca Snyder / Greater Latrobe School District
2008 / David Woten / North Allegheny School District
2007 / Lois Rebich / North Hills School District
2006 / Barbara Benglian / Upper Darby School District
2005 / Nikki Salvatico / Great Valley School District
2004 / Leslie Nicholas / Wyoming Valley West School District
2003 / Joyce Dunn / Shanksville-Stonycreek School District
2002 / Ralph Maltrese / Abington School District
2001 / Nicholas J. Uliano / Phoenixville Area School District
2000 / Faith G. Kline / Philadelphia School District
1999 / Barbara Brathwaite / Pocono Mountain School District
1998 / Susan Van Zile / Cumberland Valley School District
1997 / Robert Werner / Derry Area School District
1996 / Susan Rodriguez / Philadelphia School District
1995 / Ranjini Weerasooriya
Deborah Spencer / Philadelphia School District
1994 / Yvonne Savior
Jean Ditillo / Philadelphia School District
1993 / Violet Geib
Gloria Goode / Manheim Central School District
1992 / Rudolph Sharpe, Jr.
Merry Lee Chandler / Lower Dauphin School District
1991 / Karen Kreider
Albertine Washington / Philadelphia School District
Lebanon School District
1990 / Howard Selekman / Fox Chapel Area School District
1989 / Cathy Gust / Manheim Central School District
1988 / Vera Bej / Cumberland Valley School District
1987 / Linda Bryant / Pittsburgh School District
1986 / Martha Dolfi / Pittsburgh School District
1985 / Ida Dark / Philadelphia School District
1984 / Frank Champine / Neshaminy School District
1983 / Roger Babusci / Pittsburgh School District
1982 / Janice Davis / Lackawanna Trail School District
1981 / Louis DeVicaris / Cheltenham School District
1980 / Carol Dyas / Pittsburgh School District
1979 / Frederick DelMonte / North Hills School District
1978 / Robert Arista / Canon-McMillan School District
1977 / William Dowling / Wyomissing Area School District
1976 / Yvonne Toney / Coatesville School District
1975 / Arthur Smith / Ridley School District
1974 / Rosemary Palaferro / Harrisburg School District
1973 / Robert Reidenback / Abington Heights School District
1972 / Mary Duff / Philadelphia School District
1971 / E. Marie Boyle / Penncrest School District
1970 / Curtis Keller / Centennial School District
1969 / Richard S. Smith / Marple Newtown School District
1968 / Marie George / (District Name Unavailable)
1967 / Hilda Kring / Slippery Rock Area School District
1966 / Pauline Keiper / Hollidaysburg School District
1965 / George McGorman / Penn-Delco School District
1964 / Thomas Manley / Selinsgrove Area School District
1961 / James DeRose / Marple-Newtown School District
1957 / Adelaide deMaison / Meadville Area School District

11/15/20131