USA TODAY Announces 2007 All-USA Teacher Team

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- USA TODAY named 20 winners to its tenth All-USA Teacher Team, honoring them as representatives of all outstanding teaching in our nation's schools. The 2007 All-USA Teacher Team includes 20 individuals in grades K-12.

USA TODAY's All-USA Teacher Team honors individuals and instructional teams throughout the country. Each teacher wins $500 and $2,000 for their schools. All are honored in the nation's newspaper as representatives of outstanding teachers.

"We're pleased to honor these remarkable teachers who enhance education with initiative, enthusiasm and insight. They make a real difference for their students, schools and communities," said USA TODAY Editor Ken Paulson.

Following are the Team winners: -- Benita Hackett Albert Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, Tenn. -- Nancy G. Barile Revere High School, Revere, Mass. -- Nancy J. Berry Liza Jackson Preparatory School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. -- Peg Cagle Lawrence Gifted/Highly Gifted Magnet, Chatsworth, Calif. -- Gregory Fisher California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson, Calif. -- Vincent J. Floriani, Jr. Claxton Elementary School, Asheville, N.C. -- Linda M. Jarzyniecki Greenville High School, Greenville, Ala. -- Rebecca Johns Troy High School, Troy, Mich. -- Michael L. Lampert West Salem High School, Salem, Ore. -- Amber L. Larkin Billingsville Elementary School, Charlotte N.C. -- Basil G. Lee Benjamin Banneker High School, College Park, Ga. -- Valorie Ann Lewis Stigler Grade School, Stigler, Okla. -- Alan Mac Nair Troy High School & Smith Middle School, Troy, Mich. -- Jerry L. Parks Georgetown Middle School, Georgetown, Ky. -- Jill Putney Tradewinds Elementary School, Coconut Creek, Fla. -- Corky Schroeder Valley Community School, Merced, Calif. -- Jeffrey Thompson Evergreen Elementary, Fort Lewis, Wash. -- Linda K. White Haycock Elementary School, Falls Church, Va. -- William Yucuis Lyman High School, Longwood, Fla. -- Gayle Solis Zavala Gove Elementary, Belle Glade, Fla.

The All-USA Teacher Team was selected by a panel of judges from nominees across the country. Teachers could be nominated by school administrators, students (past or present), students' parents, colleagues or family members. Teachers were then asked to describe their schools and students' needs and how they go about meeting those needs.

Criteria for the All-USA Teacher Team were developed in consultation with our co-sponsors: the National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Middle School Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and the National Education Association.

The 2007 All-USA Teacher Team final judges were: -- Carol Antes, 1998 All-USA Teacher Team -- Betty Bigney, 2000 All-USA Teacher Team -- David Cordts, National Association of Secondary School Principals -- Carol Deets, National Middle School Association -- Robert Dubill, Former Executive Editor, USA TODAY -- Penelope Earley, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education -- Anna-Marie Halstead, National Education Association -- Tim McDonough, American Council on Education -- Janie MacIntyre, 2001 All-USA Teacher Team -- John F. Mahoney, 2004 All-USA Teacher Team -- Carol Riley, National Association of Elementary School Principals -- Robert Thornton, Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT

For more information on these winners see the Thursday, October 18, editions of USA TODAY or log on to http://allstars.usatoday.com/.

USA TODAY, the nation's top-selling newspaper, celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 15th, 2007. It is published via satellite at 35 locations in the USA and at four sites abroad. With a total average daily circulation of 2.3 million, USA TODAY is available worldwide. USA TODAY is published by Gannett Co., Inc. . The USA TODAY brand also includes: USATODAY.com, an award-winning news and information Web site that is updated 24 hours per day; USA TODAY Sports Weekly, a magazine for enthusiasts of college and professional football and baseball; USA TODAY Mobile, offering up- to-the minute news and information on a variety of mobile platforms and devices; and USA TODAY LIVE, the television arm of the USA TODAY brand that brings the spirit and quality of the newspaper to television.