USA TODAY Announces 2005 All-USA Teacher Team

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- USA TODAY named 20 winners to its eighth All-USA Teacher Team, honoring them as representatives of all outstanding teaching in our nation's schools. The 2005 All-USA Teacher Team includes 19 individuals and a team of four (23 teachers in total) in grades K- 12.

USA TODAY's All-USA Teacher Team honors individuals and instructional teams throughout the country. Team members will receive trophies and share $2,500 with their schools, with each teacher receiving $500. 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: * Christina Ross Daniels Picayune Center for Alternative Education, Picayune, Miss. * William P. Davenport Nonnewaug High School, Woodbury, Conn. * Randy William Granger William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, Pa. * Meg Greiner Independence Elementary School, Independence, Ore. * Pete Karpyk Weir High School, Weirton, W.Va. * Dana K. Kelly Southwest Elementary School, Lakeland, Fla. * Vincent Lalli Hillside Children's Center, Romulus, N.Y. * Janey Layman Southmoreland High School, Alverton, Pa. * Kathy K. Lineberger Marvin M. Ward Elementary School, Winston-Salem, N.C. * Lisa R. Peterson George S. Parker High School, Janesville, Wis. * Cheryl Potocki The Charter School of Wilmington, Wilmington, Del. * Dawn N. Rutland New Dominion Alternative School, Manassas, Va. * Nicola Ann Salvatico General Wayne Elementary School, Malvern, Pa. * Patsy Wood Smith Holly Springs Elementary School, Pickens, S.C. * Tamara Steen Mabton Jr.-Sr. High School, Mabton, Wash. * Joseph W. Underwood Miami High School, Miami, Fla. * Marcella Vancil Flossie Wiley School, Urbana, Ill. * Pam Vaughan Fordyce High School, Fordyce, Ark. * Gina Rachel Wagner Lincoln High School/Washington Junior High, Manitowoc, Wis. * Hernandez K/1 Team Jessie Auger Martine Lebret Naomi Mulvihill Brenda Rosario Rafael Hernandez Bilingual School, Roxbury, Mass.

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 2005 All-USA Teacher Team final judges were: * Carol Antes, 1998 First Team * Betty Bigney, 2000 First Team * Carol Deets, National Middle School Association * Penelope Earley, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education * Richard Flanary, National Association of Secondary School Principals * Janie MacIntyre, 2001 First Team * Tim McDonough, American Council on Education * 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 13, editions of USA TODAY or log on to http://www.allstars.usatoday.com/.

USA TODAY is the nation's top-selling newspaper. It is published via satellite at 36 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. .