AUBURN – A Sherwood Heights Elementary School teacher is one of four finalists for 2009 Maine Teacher of the Year.

Michelle Gagne, 42, was a first-grade teacher when her principal nominated her for the honor last winter. Nine teachers were nominated statewide and all nine became semi-finalists, going through a school visit, a professional portfolio review and an oral presentation in front of a panel of judges that included past award winners, principals, Maine Department of Education staff, members of the State Board of Education and businesspeople. Four of the nine are finalists.

Gagne turned to teaching as a second career, leaving retail management 10 years ago to serve as a long-term substitute. She joined Sherwood Heights as a full-time teacher eight years ago and now teaches a combined first- and second-grade class.

“I’ve never looked back,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed it more and more every year.”

Judges have lauded Gagne for her enthusiasm for her students.

The 2009 Maine Teacher of the Year will be announced during an assembly at the winner’s school in September. The winner will represent Maine teachers at functions across the country and will be in the running for national Teacher of the Year.

Gagne said she would be proud to represent her fellow teachers.

“This group of teachers and support staff at Sherwood Heights makes my job an absolute joy because I love coming to work and I feel I share the same passion with everybody that I work with,” she said.

The remaining finalists are David Giroux, an automotive technology instructor at Maine Vocational Region Ten School in Brunswick; Gloria L. Noyes, a fifth-grade teacher at Congin Elementary School in Westbrook; and Diana Tomasello Waterman, a music and chorus teacher at Alfred and Shapleigh Memorial elementary schools.