Four people who teach in Lewiston, Auburn, Turner and Litchfield are among 18 statewide who have been nominated for 2008 Maine Teacher of the Year, the Maine Department of Education said Thursday.

The local nominees are Pamela Abzan of the Lewiston Regional Technical Center; Donna Albert of Walton Elementary School in Auburn; Charlena Beganny of Carrie Ricker Elementary School in Litchfield; and Jeanne Drews of Turner Elementary School.

All 18 nominees will be honored Wednesday during a State House ceremony.

“This is a very special program honoring excellence in teaching and all Maine teachers,” Maine Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron said in prepared remarks. Gendron called teaching “the noblest profession. It needs to be recognized as such.”

Principals who nominated the local nominees offered why.

Lewiston’s Pamela Abzan established the School of Health Science at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center “taking the best of academic and career and technical training programming,” said director Donald Cannan. She developed a program that will prepare students for medical careers and health science education. Today, many of Lewiston’s top 20 students are enrolled in her program, Cannan said.

He credited Abzan as a teacher who is “very concerned and giving. … she’s outstanding” in every way. “She is first, and foremost, a student advocate. Her caring and compassion is not just an occasional occurrence, it is what defines her as a teacher.”

Donna Albert is “a composite of teaching the best practices in education … a model in both social and academic ways,” Walton Elementary School Principal Michelle McClellan said.

A veteran teacher, Albert is dedicated to students and families,” McClellan said. “Donna is straight forward, has a good sense of humor, and makes a point of knowing kids individually.” Many teachers do that, but she “takes it to a different level” and connects with students and families, McClellan said.

Albert is a good example of why the best teachers are needed in the more disadvantaged schools. Walton has a good number of students from families of low socio-economic status. “We’re so blessed to Donna here. She raises aspirations at young ages.”

Turner’s Jeanne Drews teaches fourth and fifth grades at the Turner Elementary School.

“Jeanne is one of the most exceptional teachers I’ve ever had the privilege of working with,” said principal Kay Slusser. Drews is a veteran teacher but still has the enthusiasm of a beginning teacher. Drews is “exceptionally bright and innovative,” Slusser said.

“She builds a strong community of learners in her classroom. She doesn’t just do the basic of academics, she teaches the basics of life. She teaches her students to be good citizens, to go out of their way to help each other.”

When Slusser walks into Drews’ classroom it’s a caring atmosphere, Slusser said. “She cares about the children and they care about each other.”

Litchfield’s Charlena “Chuck” Beganny had taught all of her 17 years at the Carrie Ricker Middle School and Libby-Tozier School. She teaches physical education to grades K-2, health to grades 3-8.

Principal Christine Lajoie-Cameron praised Beganny as “always enthusiastic, energetic, creative and nurturing to the children.” Current or past Litchfield students remember Beganny fondly, she said.

Beganny has been involved in most innovative programs in the schools: the walking club, cross country running, movie night, drug awareness campaign, the great American smoke out. “Often times we find that ‘things’ happen for kids and staff anonymously – a new coats, shoes, toys at Christmas or gift cards. When we scratch the surface we find that Chuck had a hand in it,” Lajoie-Cameron said.

According to the Department of Education, all nominees will undergo an intensive selection process including school visits, portfolio reviews, oral presentations and interviews before the teacher of the year selection and announcement in September.

Other 2008 nominees are: Erica Barcelo of the Noble High School in North Berwick; Jennifer Blair, Massabesic High School in Waterboro; Lucille Bowers of Bonny Eagle Middle School in Buxton; Peter Devine of Dexter Regional High School; Joseph Fagnant of the Houlton High School; Lisa Hackett of the Dr. Lewis S. Libby School in Milford; Charles Johnson of Mount Desert Island High School.

Plus, Martin McKeon of Sanford High School; Andrea Napolitano-Romer of the Riverton School in Portland; Geoffrey Nelson of the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center; Henri St. Pierre of Cheverus High School in Portland; George D. Shabo of the Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach; Rosemarie Smith of the Waterville Senior High School; and Kris Vigue of Stearns High School in Millinocket.

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