Our teachers are the foundation of our community, and once a year one exemplary educator is recognized as the district's Teacher of the Year. The top three finalists were announced today.

They're respected by their colleagues, loved by their students, and chosen as the top three educators at a department with over 2,000. Maybel Uncangco said, "I'm overwhelmed, but I'm extremely excited," with Monica Cepeda, adding, "I'm just very honored that my principal and the foundation have chosen me." And Melissa Camacho said, "Oh my gosh, it feels so overwhelming."

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Camacho, an 8th grade reading teacher, is the only secondary teacher finalist, and while she admitted she's nervous, she said she wants to make her students proud. "I tell my students every year that I love to teach because I get to hang out with a bunch of teenagers all day - books, poems, and get them to love it too - it's fun! It's fun to see them in the beginning and watch them grow. I love it!" she shared.

Cepeda, from Ordot-Chalan Pago Elementary School, said her greatest moment happened years after a student left her classroom at her daughter's high school graduation. "Unbeknownst to me, the valedictorian did her speech, and she actually had me in hers speech, and that was one of the greatest moments to know even after years of being their teacher, after they were my students in elementary and after high school they still look to me as an inspiration."

And for 2nd grade Tamuning Elementary teacher Uncangco, while the profession has its challenges and rewards, she wouldn't have it any other way. "Become a teacher," she suggested. "It's a great profession, it's a work of heart and a work of art. We definitely are proponents for our students, we're their keepers, we are the ones who will make them become contributing members of the community."

The annual Teacher of the Year Award is organized by the Foundation for Public Education in an effort to support and recognize the importance and contributions of island teachers. Foundation chair Maria Leon Guerrero said the private non-profit organization is led by volunteers in the business community, some of which include Cars Plus, Bank of Guam, United Airlines, and DOCOMO Pacific.

In addition to being named Teacher of the Year, the winner will also drive off in a Hyundai Elantra and will also travel nationally and internationally to promote teaching as a profession. The winner will be announced on April 27.