Here are the Teacher of the Year finalists for Wake County schools

Wake County schools have named the 13 Teacher of the Year finalists for 2018-19.

Candidates are nominated and elected by their peers at their individual schools. The nominees develop a portfolio that highlights their work and philosophy around teaching.

Selection committees review the portfolios and narrow the field to a group of semifinalists who then submit short videos reflecting the district's Strategic Plan in their work. After reviewing these videos and making classroom visits, the committees then determine the 13 finalists.

Next up, the finalists will appear before an interview committee. Interview scores will be combined with scores from three other components — portfolios, site observations and videos — to determine the 2018-19 Teacher of the Year. The winner will be named May 10.

Here are the finalists:

▪ Laura Abraham — Hortons Creek Elementary School.

▪ Shane Barry — Athens Drive High School.

▪ Allyson Caudill — Barwell Road Elementary School.

▪ Lizzie Casey — Northwoods Elementary School.

▪ Allison DuVal — West Cary Middle School.

▪ Karli Eller — Leesville Road Elementary School.

▪ Jasmine Frantz — Apex Friendship High School.

▪ Elizabeth Jordan — Fox Road Elementary School.

▪ Jason Norton — Herbert Akins Road Elementary School.

▪ Kathleen Noland — Laurel Park Elementary School.

▪ MaryLu Ringwood — Forestville Road Elementary School.

▪ Tara Rood — Reedy Creek Elementary School.

▪ Courtney Rudder - East Cary Middle School.

This story was originally published March 29, 2018 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Here are the Teacher of the Year finalists for Wake County schools."