Five Putnam City teachers have been selected as Putnam City Schools Foundation Excellent Educators and finalists for the district’s Teacher of the Year. The Excellent Educators are:

• Jody Bowie, physics and Earth science teacher, Putnam City High School
• Kelli Chastain, 1st-grade teacher, Lake Park Elementary School
• Shane Cole, math teacher, Western Oaks Middle School
• Cathy O'Connor, family and consumer science teacher, Putnam City Academy
• Karen Rice, science teacher, Capps Middle School

The five finalists, along with teachers of the year from every school, will be honored at the district’s annual Teacher of the Year reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, at NEWCHURCH, 9201 N. Rockwell. During that same program, one of the five Excellent Educators will be announced as the district’s teacher of the year.

After each school chooses its own teacher of the year, the five Excellent Educators are determined by a committee that includes district educators and a school board member, and become finalists for district teacher of the year .

The five Excellent Educators are then interviewed by a panel of business and community leaders, district parents and educators who make a recommendation for district teacher of the year. Each receives an award from Putnam City Schools Foundation of $250. The district teacher of the year receives an additional award of $250.

The March 8 reception, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the Putnam City Schools Foundation.