Six educators with the Guam Department of Education are one step closer in the quest for the title of the 2025 Guam Teacher of the Year.

Today, GDOE and the Foundation for Public Education announced the impressive group of finalists made up of elementary through high school teachers, shaping the next generation of scientists, authors, musicians, and leaders.

GDOE Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Swanson gave well-deserved praise to these unsung heroes.

“It’s really important to me that we take the opportunity to show the community and remind them of all the great stuff that’s going on. We have our challenges here on Guam, but we have some amazing teachers and school leaders who are doing a wonderful job every day, and we need to give them recognition,” said Swanson.

Now, Guam DOE Teachers Charina Valencia, Madrid Borja, James Santiago, Sharon Cabrera, Marie Carino, and Yoo Kyung Shin will move onto the final stage of the selection process, the classroom observation at their respective schools.

2023 GTOY Stephanie Concepcion shared her experience with the finalists ahead of their journey.

She said, “When I was named GTOY in 2023, I questioned why me when there are thousands of amazing teachers like you guys here on our island. And as I have gone through the process, I finally realized that it wasn’t about me being a Teacher of the Year; it was about representing all the wonderful, hardworking, dedicated teachers of our island of Guam at the national level.”

The finalist with the highest composite scores from the application, interview, and observation process will be named the 2025 Guam Teacher of the Year by judges, who are also former Teachers of the Year.

The winner will be announced on May 3 and will represent Guam in the 2025 National Teacher of the Year program.