Cape Elizabeth educator named Maine’s 2016 Teacher of the Year

CAPE ELIZABETH – In a surprise assembly on Oct. 5 at Pond Cove Elementary School, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Education Rachelle Tome announced grade 3 educator Talya Edlund had been selected as the 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year. Edlund, an educator of 15 years, the past 12 in Maine.

This year’s selection began with an online public nomination process and included recognition at the county level. In addition to Edlund, the other 2016 state finalists included Brenda LaVerdiere, fourth grade teacher at Academy Hill School in Wilton and 2015 Franklin County Teacher of the Year and Mia Morrison, English teacher and media interventionist at Foxcroft Academy and the 2015 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year.

As the 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year, Edlund will travel throughout the state to advocate for teachers, students and the efforts underway in Maine’s public schools to prepare students for success in college, careers and civic life.