Page Middle School teacher Brian Teucke has been selected as the Gloucester school division’s Teacher of the Year, the Gloucester County Public Schools Education Foundation has announced.

Teucke joined the faculty of Page Middle School in 2015 after completing several years of military service and earning his master of arts in teaching degree at Liberty University. He teaches eighth grade social studies at Page.

He describes teaching as “the active ingredient in helping adolescents mature into healthy and responsible citizens.” He was also selected as the middle school Teacher of the Year for the division.

Two other finalists, Carrie Landry from Botetourt Elementary and Emily Carlson of Gloucester High School, are recognized as Teachers of the Year for their respective school levels.

“The greatest reward I have found in teaching is when students show both enjoyment and ownership in learning,” said Landry, who teaches third grade. Carlson, who has taught world history at GHS since 2013, remarked, “In the most basic sense teaching is about inspiring your students to want to learn.”

“Selecting our teachers for this recognition is one of the most pleasurable, but also difficult, activities we as a foundation engage in,” said Dr. Sharon Stone, chair of the foundation’s board of directors. “All nine candidates from the various schools have been chosen by their peers as examples of excellence. When it comes to the final decision, it is usually by the slimmest of margins.”

Gloucester’s other 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year and their respective schools are as follows: Stacey Marsh, Abingdon Elementary; Carlee Hanchak, Achilles Elementary; Leonne Arsenovic, Bethel Elementary; Kimberly Robins, Petsworth Elementary; Aimee Layton, Peasley Middle School, and Sam Venable, Gloucester High School.