Urban Science Academy's William Madden-Fuoco Nominated as 2012 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

William Madden-Fuoco, a humanities teacher at the  has been nominated as a finalist for the 2012 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

Madden-Fuoco was one of four Bay State educators selected as finalists for the 2012 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, who were introduced today by the state’s education commissioner and  lead program underwriter, Hannaford Supermarkets.

The finalists were introduced by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester and representatives from Hannaford Supermarkets at the Hannaford store in Quincy, Mass.

Now in its 49^th year, the statewide program honors a Massachusetts teacher who represents the positive contributions of all teachers statewide and energizes the teaching profession. The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year will be selected among the finalists and announced at an awards ceremony at the State Capitol in Boston on June 16.

"Massachusetts is privileged to have so many dedicated educators and the four finalists for 2012 Teacher of the Year named today embody the skill, passion and commitment of the entire field," said Commissioner Chester. "We are proud to participate in this important annual recognition and applaud the continued support of our lead partner, Hannaford Supermarkets."

The four finalists for the 2012 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program are:

• Adam William Gray of Somerville, a mathematics teacher at Monument High School in Boston, who has been teaching for five years. 

• Ryan J. King of Brentwood, N.H., a biology teacher at the Masconomet Regional Middle School in Topsfield, Mass, who has been teaching for nine years.

• William Madden-Fuoco of Jamaica Plain, a humanities and AP English teacher at the Urban Science Academy in West Roxbury, who has been teaching for three years.

• Sarah Roberts of Duxbury, Mass., a third- and fourth-grade teacher at the South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell, Mass., who has been teaching for eight years.

As presenting sponsor of the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program, Hannaford Supermarkets will award the honoree, finalists, and semifinalists with a combined $16,500 in monetary grants to be used for classroom initiatives and professional development.

“Hannaford Supermarkets is thrilled to recognize our community’s outstanding educators through the 2012 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program,” said Molly Tarleton, Community Relations Specialist for Hannaford Supermarkets in Massachusetts. “We believe that teachers deserve to be celebrated and honored for their contributions as much as any athlete, musician or movie star. Hannaford looks forward to supporting the best and brightest among Massachusetts educators with grants to advance educational opportunities in the classroom for tomorrow’s leaders.”

The finalist selected as the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year will share his or her expertise with educators and students, community members and others during their designated term and will automatically become the state’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year Program.

This is press release from Hannaford Supermarkets.