For the first time in Texas since 1995 a local teacher who graduated from West Texas A&M University is one of the four finalists for the 2015 Teacher of the Year Program. The National Teacher of the Year program is ran by the Council of Chief State School Officers. This program recognizes teachers for their effective work in class and how their voice empowers as a whole. The winner for the National Teacher of the year will be announced by President Barrack Obama in April in Washington D.C.

“I had wonderful professors and I loved the program,” Shanna Peeples, WT graduate and nominee, said. “WT is big enough to give you a lot of experience but it’s small enough where you aren’t just considered a number.”

Shanna Peeples graduated from WT with Bachelor’s in English and continued her education at the University of Texas at Arlington with an M.ed in Curriculum and Instruction. Currently Peeples is a Language Arts teacher and the department head for the Language Arts department at Palo Duro High school in Amarillo. She also teaches night classes.

“WT grads are really doing amazing things,” Lisa Insall, Alumni Relations coordinator, said. “And this is the latest example.”

Many of the people who have worked with Peeples aren’t the only ones who are proud and impressed with all her success but many of her students as well.

“She has impacted my life with her motivations,” Alina Noynouanpeng, Sophomore Biology major, said. “And the drive to continue to work hard and be a better me.”