This week, High School English Teacher Shanna Peeples of Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas was announced as the 2015 Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The National Teacher of the Year Program has been around since 1952 and has since drawn media attention to over 100 of the nation's wisest and brightest educators to recognize them for their excellence in teaching. Rightfully becoming international sensations almost overnight, these teachers exemplify the amazing potential - and proven impact - educators can have on their students and broader communities.

This year, the prestigious honor was bestowed upon Ms. Peeples because of her dedication to education and community impact both inside the classroom and out. With 85% of Palo Duro's population falling below the poverty line, Shanna goes to work every day and faces students who endure physical and emotional trauma at home. She encounters survivors of domestic violence. She mentors many students have oftentimes have no-one else to turn to but their teachers. And the list goes on.

AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner congratulated Ms. Peeples, "Teachers like Shanna Peeples are the reason AAE was founded. Shanna is faced with extreme challenges on a daily basisyet she rises to the occassion - she's proven that the teaching profession is full of good teachers who have the power and the skills to overcome even the most  difficult obstacles." said Beckner. "Teachers like Shanna exemplify why educators should lead the charge for excellence in education. We need to amplify teacher voices so that educators are able to rise to the professional challenges they face in their careers."

As the 2015 Teacher of the Year, "I hope to remind people that public school teachers are amazing, dedicated, hard-working, smart, and gifted people." said Peebles. "There are great things [at schools across the country] that happen every day."

As an organization that promotes excellence in the profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection, AAE congratulates Shanna Peeples - and teachers like her - for the amazing work they do on a daily basis and whose impact extends far beyond the school house.

Read the full Teacher of the Year announcement and watch the YouTube video of the announcement on CBS!

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