Who will be teacher of the year?

All teachers might be considered special for their willingness to devote time to students, but for one night a select group will be honored for their ability to truly inspire their students and go above and beyond expectations.

During an award ceremony at 6 p.m. today at the Palace Grand, 241 Della Court, the Hernando County Teacher of the Year will be announced from among 21 candidates chosen as the best-of-the-best of their schools.

Roy Gordon, manager of communications for the district, said each candidate has been interviewed and videotaped while teaching in their classroom to be used by a committee when choosing the best applicant. The group spent the past three days reviewing applicants for the teacher of the year honor.

Then tonight, the chosen educator will be announced and receive a plaque while - for the first time - Gordon said last year's teacher of the year will be honored with a ring from Jostens signifying his or her district honor from the year before.

"We wanted to do something that would honor the teacher of the year from last year," Gordon said. "The ring also will be decorated in the school colors of the teacher of the year's school, so next year whoever we pick this year will also be given a ring with their school's colors when they're on their way out."

Following Friday's ceremony, Hernando County's teacher of the year will be in the running for regional, state and then national teacher of the year.

Those who win the national honor receive $10,000 from Macy's, a customized trophy and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

According to the Florida State Department of Education, each finalist would also receive a $5,000 check and a $500 Macy's gift card along with $1,000 to each of the finalists' respective schools to be used toward educational programs.

"It's a huge honor," Gordon said. "In all the years I've been here, we've never had a teacher from Hernando County."

According to the application for teacher of the year, those nominated by their peers, students or parents, were asked to list how their nominated teacher portrays the following:

• Superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

• Has demonstrated unusual concern for the education and welfare of his/her students.

• Has made a significant contribution to the improvement of quality education in the school.

• Has demonstrated a commitment to the concept that a positive environment involves the interaction of the student, family and staff.

• Whose day-to-day performance is dependable, consistent and people-oriented.

• Whose contributions may be overshadowed because of personal humility and modesty.

Committees at the individual school level then select from their internal candidates before submitting their choice to the district office.

"It's a really big deal, and these folks have already been honored as teacher of the year at their school level," Gordon said. "There's a lot these candidates go through between being interviewed multiple times and videotaped in their classrooms. They're all good for it."