press release:
Julie Trout, a former art teacher at B.F. Day Elementary School, and now a teacher at Gatewood Elementary, is one of nine finalists for Washington state’s 2012 Teacher of the Year award to be announced Oct. 3.

Puget Sound Educational Service District selected Trout as its Puget Sound Regional Teacher of the Year in June which made her eligible for consideration as the state’s teacher of the year.

Trout, a visual arts specialist, created and implemented a thriving visual arts program while at B.F. Day Elementary that included instruction in all mediums – with an emphasis on world cultures and integration of core subjects with visual arts.

In her Teacher of the Year application a retired principal wrote, "Julie's instructional practice is creative and grounded in best practice. She gets results! Yet her greatest power as an educator is her ability to shine light and love in the classroom. She instills confidence in children and supports them in taking safe risks in their thinking and learning. Julie consistently holds students accountable to wise, respectful behavior by modeling it herself and fearlessly coaching them to be their best."

The Teacher of the Year program is part of a nationwide initiative to honor and recognize exceptional educators. Each Educational School District selects one regional teacher of the year from the school districts within their region.

For more information, contact Hilary Seidel, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, statewide recognition coordinator at (360) 725-6117 or Hilary.Seidel@k12.wa.us.