41 Teachers Vie for County's Top Honor at ``Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers,'' Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. on Channel 4 San Diego; Commemorating 100 Years of Flight

Business Wire,  Sept 9, 2003  

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News Editors/Feature Editors/Education Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003

San Diego County salutes 41 of its top educators during the 13th annual "Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers," a magical evening filled with laughter and tears, emotion and inspiration, Broadway-style entertainment and special celebrity appearances. "Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers" is a television extravaganza that airs live from the San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. exclusively on Channel 4 San Diego. Commemorating "100 Years of Flight," the evening culminates with the announcement of four San Diego County Teachers of the Year.

Channel 4 San Diego's Matt Vasgersian, the television voice of the Padres, will emcee this Academy Awards-style show. A television veteran who has appeared in movies and popular television shows, Vasgersian received an Emmy Award nomination as last year's emcee.

"Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers" will feature some of San Diego's brightest talents including piano virtuoso Michael Shih, the cast of "Peter Pan," the San Diego Children's Choir, and 11-year-old Mark Mejia, a Star Search finalist. Throughout the night, the spotlight will shine on the true stars of the show by showcasing the teachers. The public is invited to be a part of this live television event. Tickets are $14, $7 for students, and $12 for groups of 50 or more. For information, call 858-292-3753.

Named as their District Teacher of the Year, the 41 nominees were selected based on student achievement, professional development and community involvement, teaching philosophy and personal style, knowledge of educational issues and trends, promotion and development of the teaching profession, and accountability and ability to serve as ambassadors of education. The four educators named San Diego County Teacher of the Year will represent the county in the California Teacher of the Year awards program. This year marks the 30th annual Teacher of the Year recognition program, coordinated by the San Diego County Office of Education, and the 13th year the black-tie awards ceremony will be aired live by Cox Communications. Time Warner Cable and Adelphia Communications will also carry this special telecast.

"Cox Presents: A Salute To Teachers" is a way for the entire San Diego community to not only recognize the nominated teachers, but also the tireless efforts of the more than 20,000 public school teachers countywide. "Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers" has received national recognition, and the telecast has earned eight Emmy Awards for Channel 4 San Diego.

The nominees for the 30th annual San Diego County Teacher of the Year are: