Juneau teacher Amy Jo Meiners was named the Alaska Teacher of the Year for 2016, the state Department of Education and Early Development announced this week.
Meiners teaches gifted students as the extended learning teacher at Auke Bay Elementary School and River Bend Elementary School in the Juneau School District. She has taught for 26 years, nine in her current position, the state education department said.
As the Alaska Teacher of the Year, Meiners will be in the running for the title of National Teacher of the Year.
The state education department also named Frances Roberts as the Alternate Teacher of the Year. Roberts teaches math at Homer High School in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Roberts has taught for 22 years in her current position.