Twenty-Four State Teachers of the Year Enroll in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University

Minneapolis—September 24, 2009—Twenty-four of America’s top educators who were selected as Teacher of the Year in their states have chosen to enroll at Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership to pursue a graduate degree in education. The two dozen Walden Teacher of the Year scholars currently enrolled at the university come from across the United States, representing 18 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Department of Defense Education Activity.

Each year, Teacher of the Year honorees are recognized nationally after a rigorous selection process, which varies by state, and a validation of his or her abilities in the classroom. Walden’s programs allow the honorees to work toward earning their master’s or doctoral degree in education online while meeting their classroom and Teacher of the Year responsibilities.

“Walden University has a nearly 40-year legacy of educating educators and, in fact, a number of our alumni have been honored as State Teacher of the Year award winners in the past. We feel privileged to have some of our nation’s finest teachers as a part of the Walden community of learners,” said Victoria Reid, vice president of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.

Teacher of the Year scholars currently enrolled in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University are:

• Alabama State Teacher of the Year 2008—Pamela Harman
• Guam Teacher of the Year 2008—Ronald Canos
• Indiana Teacher of the Year 2009—Tania Harman
• Iowa Teacher of the Year 2008—Andrew Mogle
• Kentucky Teacher of the Year 2008—Chandra Emerson
• Louisiana Teacher of the Year 2008—Laurie Carlton
• Louisiana Teacher of the Year 2009—Deborah Tonguis
• Massachusetts Teacher of the Year 2008—Michael Flynn
• Missouri Teacher of the Year 2008—Eric Langhorst
• Montana Teacher of the Year 2008—Steve Gardiner
• Nebraska Teacher of the Year 2008—Mary Schlieder
• Nevada Teacher of the Year 2008—LeAnn Morris
• New Hampshire Teacher of the Year 2009—Deborah Fogg
• Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year 2008—David Woten
• South Carolina Teacher of the Year 2007—Jennifer Buffy Murphy
• South Carolina Teacher of the Year 2008—AnnMarie Taylor
• Tennessee Teacher of the Year 2009—LuaJean Bryan
• Virginia Teacher of the Year 2008—Thomas Smigiel Jr.
• Washington, D.C., Teacher of the Year 2008—Kathleen Sheehy
• Washington, D.C., Teacher of the Year 2009—Kimberly Worthy
• Washington Teacher of the Year 2008—Laura Jones
• West Virginia Teacher of the Year 2008—Eric Kincaid
• Wisconsin Teacher of the Year 2008—Beth Oswald
• Department of Defense Education Activity’s Teacher of the Year 2008—Cathleen Marziali

Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, named for the former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, offers degree programs that support the needs of educators at all levels, from preschool through higher education, and at various stages of their profession, including new and veteran classroom teachers, experienced faculty members and administrators, and career-changers interested in teaching. Its offerings include bachelor’s, master’s, post-master’s and doctoral degree programs, as well as individual graduate courses and a teacher preparation program.

About Walden University
Since 1970, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 33,000 students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of 45 online and campus-based universities in 20 countries.

Walden offers more than 36 degree programs with more than 140 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration, technology and engineering. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.