Idaho’s Teacher of Year Comes from Coeur D’Alene

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Teacher of the Year teaches math at a middle school in Coeur d'Alene. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna honored Canfield Middle School's Katie Pemberton as the state's top teacher Thursday.

She was honored during an all-school assembly and will get a $1,000 prize. The Coeur d'Alene Press reports she also gets an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C., as a nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Pemberton says she gets her energy and inspiration from her students.

Canfield Principal Nick Lilyquist says Pemberton's strength is her positive attitude and willingness to work with students at all hours of the day.Last spring, Pemberton was one of 97 math and science teachers nationally to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science for Teaching.