Sunnyside teacher Joshua Schlegel is the ESD 105 Teacher of the Year.

The announcement that Schlegel was chosen as the regional teacher of the year came during a surprise presentation at a district in Sunnyside Monday.

Schlegel has been a math teacher at Harrison middle school in Sunnyside since 2007. In 2009 he became the schools math coach.

Today's he's excited about being named the ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the Year. “I’m honored to be given this award but I have to give credit to the team of teachers in Sunnyside that are doing a great job.”

And as the math coach with a great team he says he’s seeing big results. The rate of 8th graders at Harrison meeting or exceeding the State’s math standards nearly doubled within three years, going from 25 percent during the 2008-2009 school year to 42 percent for 2011-2012.

Last year's Regional Teacher of the Year was Jeff Charbonneau who went on to become the National Teacher of the Year.

Schelgel will serve as one of nine educators selected by each of our state's regional ESDs as nominees for the title of the 2014 Washington State Teacher of the Year. The statewide title will be announced by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction on Sept. 23, during a ceremony at the Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum in Seattle.

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