Jeff Charbonneau, a 2000 CWU alumnus and an Eastern Washington science teacher today was named national Teacher of the Year. 

Read the Wall Street Journal article here.

Read the Washington Post article here.

Charbonneau, from Zillah High in the Yakima Valley, is the first winner from Washington state since 2007, and he will spend a year traveling as an ambassador for the teaching profession.

The Council of Chief State School Officers announced the award today. Charbonneau, the 63rd National Teacher of the Year, will be recognized along with all 2013 State Teachers of the Year by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.

Charbonneau was one of four finalists for the teaching honor. The other three finalists were an English teacher from Maryland, a special education teacher from Florida and a music teacher from New Hampshire.

Read more about Charbonneau here.

Charbonneau is a 2000 CWU graduate in biology education, who also received his biology teaching certificate, in 2000; and his broad area science teaching certificate, in 2004, from CWU. In 2005, he earned his Master Teacher degree from Central.

In addition, Charbonneau teaches online professional teacher certification courses and facilities the online National Board Teacher Certification candidate program through the CWU Office of Continuing Education. He also is a teacher in CWU's Cornerstone program, which allow his high school physics students to earn college credit.

Photo courtesy of David Goehner, ESD 105