Jim Grant/Nevada Appeal
Carson High School English teacher Cheryl Macy was selected as Nevada's 2011 Teacher of the Year, state education officials announced Tuesday during a surprise, school-wide assembly.
"At the State Department of Education, we have many programs," explained Deputy Super-intendent Gloria Dopf. "One of the programs I'm most proud of is Teacher of the Year. It's kind of like the educators Academy Awards."
Before announcing the winner, she explained to students that nominees from every school district within the state are put through a careful screening process.
"I was delighted when the committee selected someone who is dedicated to lifelong learning and the power of the word," Dopf said. "With that, I'd like to recognize Cheryl Macy."
A surprised Macy accepted a bouquet of flowers from Carson High School Principal Ron Beck along with the award that she said would be more fitting if it recognized the school's entire faculty.
"We have a great school and great students," she said. "I feel very lucky to have the job I have."
A Carson High School graduate herself, Macy has taught there since 1998.
She served the past five years as the head of the high school's language arts department and oversaw the school-wide adoption of the senior project as a graduation requirement.
"There's no single person at Carson High School that's been more important to the success of the senior project than Cheryl Macy," said vice principal Carl Henry.
Macy was selected as Carson High School's Educator of the Year, then in May won district educator of the year, beating out representatives from all other Carson City schools.
As the state's teacher of the year, Macy will be a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year to be announced in May. She will travel to Washington, D.C., for a week of professional gatherings with the nominees from the other states.
While there, she will join her colleagues at a dinner hosted by President Obama. She will also spend a week at the International Space Camp in Alabama.
In 2008, Empire Elementary School teacher LeAnn Morris was named the Nevada Teacher of the Year as well.
Carson City School Superintendent Richard Stokes, whose daughter has been in Macy's class, said the state made the right choice.
"She's a wonderful teacher - and I can speak to that from a personal point of view," he said. "She'll be a tremendous representative of the state, the school district and the school."
She's already made a difference in her students' lives.
Senior Larissa Chamousis, 17, said the curriculum in Macy's English class helped prepare her for college entrance exams.
"She makes sure all of her students learn," Chamousis said. "She makes it really easy."
Added senior Andrea Avila, 16: "She's awesome."