One high school teacher, six from middle schools and three from lower grades are finalists for Indiana's teacher of the year to be named next month.

State School Superintendent Tony Bennett said Tuesday the finalists include Fort Wayne Shawnee Middle School English teacher Carolyn Bookmyer, math teachers Robin Keerns of Fishers Junior High and Thomas Rice of East Tippecanoe Middle School near Lafayette, language arts teachers Lisa Sarjeant of Sheridan Middle School and Lisa Steele of Eastwood Middle School in Indianapolis, and reading remediation teacher Melanie Park of Huntington's Riverview Middle School.

The other finalists are Mishawaka High School math teacher Suzanne Dolembo, special education teacher Brieanne Irey of Navarre Intermediate Center in South Bend, Debbie DeLaurelle of Granger's Northpoint Elementary as well as Laurie Bandos of Avon's Pine Tree Elementary.

For more information about the award, click on the Big Red Bar.