The Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year program is one of the largest teacher recognition programs in the country. Since its inception in 1995, the program has recognized more than 25,000 teachers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and contributed more than $19 million to those schools.
Recognition begins at the local level and every year, one teacher in each community is honored. The local Teacher of the Year receives a $1,000 educational grant to benefit their local school.
Then, the Local Teacher of the Year winners are eligible to apply for the State Teacher of the Year award. State winners receive a one-year membership to Phi Delta Kappa and an additional $10,000 educational grant for their schools. State winners are automatically entered in the national competition where one National Teacher of the Year is selected.
The National Teacher of the Year receives an additional $25,000 educational grant for a total of $36,000 to his or her school.
This past May, 3,990 local winners were selected and announced, receiving $1,000 educational grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation. In Pennsylvania, 146 teachers were chosen for a total of $146,000 in education grant money.
Among those Pennsylvania teachers was Jill Steffen, who was nominated by several students from her 2005-06 class, and was recognized by the Selinsgrove area Wal-Mart.
Steffen is a second grade teacher at Lenkerville Elementary School. She is a 1990 graduate of Lycoming College and a 1986 graduate of Tyrone Area High School. Steffen is the daughter of John Rice of Warriors Mark.
She has taught at Lenkerville since 1990 and currently resides in Halifax with her husband Kevin and their three daughters, Lindsay, Lauren and Elizabeth.
Steffen said she was very humbled by the nomination and stressed there are many people who must share in the recognition she received, including the students, their parents, fellow teachers and the Lenkerville Elementary Principal Jack Welker.
Selinsgrove Wal-Mart assistant manager Marc Crissman presented Steffen with a check earlier this year when the award was announced.
As a Teacher of the Year, Steffen received a $100 gift certificate and $1,000 to use for classroom supplies and other resources.
