Boothbay Region Elementary School language arts teacher Cory Chase was recently chosen as 2014 Lincoln County Teacher of the Year.

Educate Maine, a business-led education organization, announced all 16 Maine county winners on May 5; and on May 6, National Teacher Appreciation Day, a ceremony was held at 2 p.m. in the State House in Augusta honoring all of the county winners.

According to the press release from Educate Maine, this year the Maine Teacher of the Year program has been expanded to include the selection of 16 county teachers of the year. The expanded program and simplified nomination process resulted in a significant increase in the number of Maine teachers nominated (a total of 376) in all regions of the state. With this ceremony, the County Teachers of the Year begin their year of service and recognition where they will serve as ambassadors for teachers, students and quality education. One of these teachers will be selected as the 2015 Maine State Teacher of the Year.

These talented professionals have completed the first leg of what is considered one of the most rigorous Teacher of the Year application processes in the nation. The County Teachers of the Year will continue an intensive selection process, consisting of a classroom video, school visits by a distinguished review panel, professional portfolio review, oral presentations, and final interviews before the 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year is selected. The review panels include legacy Teachers of the Year, principals, Department of Education staff, members of professional organizations and the business community.

“Cory Chase teaches middle school students at Boothbay Region Elementary School,” begins the biography of Cory Chase on the website, www.mainetoy.org. “She serves as yearbook advisor and project citizen advisor at the school. Cory started her teaching career in 1993. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s in English and a master’s of science in education. Her principal (Mark Tess) says that Cory was born to be a middle school teacher. You have to be part entertainer, part lion tamer and always on top of your game. Cory is all that and more.”

Chase was nominated for the award by the parent of one of her students and a long-time friend, Sarah Sherman.

In 2013, the Maine Department of Education partnered with Educate Maine to manage the Maine Teacher of the Year program. Bangor Savings Bank, Geiger, Hannaford and Unum generously provide funding for the Maine Teacher of the Year program.

2014 County Teachers of the Year

Aroostook: Kara Beal, Valley Rivers Middle School, Ft. Kent, eighth grade, English language arts
Androscoggin: Gordon “Skip” Crosby, Poland Regional High School, Poland, grades 9-12, Spanish
Cumberland: Sarah Brokofsky, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook, fifth grade
Franklin: Sarah Reynolds, Cascade Brook School, RSU 9, Farmington, fourth grade
Hancock: Andrea Beardsley, Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth, grades 10-12, science
Kennebec: Dan Crocker, Hall Dale Middle School, Farmingdale, 6-8, Math
Knox: Kristi Todd, Union Elementary School, Union, Kindergarten
Lincoln: Cory Chase, Boothbay Regional Elementary, grades 7-8, English language arts
Oxford: Jeffrey Bailey, Mountain Valley High School, Rumford, grades 9-12, technology
Penobscot: Victoria Grotton, Glenburn School, Glenburn, pre-K
Piscataquis: Dyan McCarthy-Clark, SeDoMoCha Middle, Dover-Foxcroft, eighth grade, social studies
Sagadahoc: Eric Varney, Morse High School, Bath, grades 9-12, science
Somerset: Jennifer Dorman, Skowhegan Area Middle School, grades 7-8, English, language arts
Waldo: Phyllis Frkuska-Heeren, Drinkwater Elementary, Northport, grades K-5, literacy & math
Washington: Ann Luginbuhl, Charlotte Elementary, Charlotte, grades 6-8, all subjects
York: Kate Smith, Central Elementary, MSAD 35, South Berwick, pre-K-3, music