National Teacher of the Year announced; Tacoma educator among finalists

The 2016 National Teacher of the Year is Connecticut educator Jahana Hayes.

Tacoma’s Nathan Gibbs-Bowling, named Washington Teacher of the Year in September, was one of four finalists for the national honor.

The announcement was made Thursday morning on the “CBS This Morning” show. Hayes is a history teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, Connecticut.

“I’m happy for her and think she’ll be an amazing ambassador for the profession,” Gibbs-Bowling tweeted.

Gibbs-Bowling, who teaches AP government and human geography at Lincoln High School, will travel to Washington, D.C., where he, Hayes and two other finalists — Los Angeles teacher Daniel Jocz and Oklahoma teacher Shawn Sheehan — will be honored Tuesday at a White House ceremony.

Gibbs-Bowling said he plans to invite President Obama to visit Lincoln. And he’s also looking forward to speaking with the president’s chief of staff and his advisers on education policy.

The National Teacher of the Year is chosen from among the state Teachers of the Year by a national selection committee representing major national education organizations.

The program is organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 7:16 AM with the headline "National Teacher of the Year announced; Tacoma educator among finalists."