Bethel Park High School English Teacher Christopher Jack was honored as one of 12 Finalists for the 2012 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

The 2012 PA Teacher of the Year was announced by the PA Department of Education at a special awards ceremony that was held December 5 in Hershey.

Mr. Jack is one of four Bethel Park Teachers to reach the Semi-Finalist level since 2008 and the second to be named a Finalist since 2009. He joins William Penn Elementary School Fourth Grade Teacher Kathryn Kasten, who was a Semi-Finalist for the 2011 PA Teacher of the Year; Bethel Park High School English Teacher Charles Youngs, who was a 2009 Finalist; and now retired William Penn Kindergarten Teacher and current School Board Director Cindy Buckley, who was a 2008 Semi-Finalist.

At the Teacher of the Year Dinner, Mr. Jack was introduced by Bethel Park High School junior Jocelyn Hyrb.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year program and the Pennsylvania Department of Education annually recognize educational excellence throughout the state by selecting exemplary teachers to represent the thousands of outstanding teachers in Pennsylvania’s schools.

Earlier this year, he was named one of 31 Semi-Finalists.

Please click here to see photos from the event.