The College of Education at Louisiana Tech University has produced two of the state’s 2011 Teachers of the Year. Jenny Marie Blalock, a first-grade teacher at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, was named the 2011 Louisiana Elementary School Teacher of the Year and Julie Bartlett Stephenson, an AP English teacher at Ruston High School, was named the 2011 Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made at the Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration in Baton Rouge, hosted by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). The LDOE honored more than 200 educators during the day-long event. “As the 2011 Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year, I know that I do not stand alone in my receipt of this award,” said Stephenson.  “My education, my past and present administrators, and my past and present students stand behind me accepting it too, for they have made me what I am today.” Stephenson earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a master’s degree in English, and a master’s degree in teaching in English Education from Louisiana Tech. Blalock earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership, also from Louisiana Tech. “This honor is very special to me and I am fortunate to have been the student of many wonderful teachers from kindergarten to graduate school,” said Blalock.  “One of the greatest joys of being named Louisiana’s Elementary Teacher of the Year is being able to share this honor with my family, my school, my university, and teachers who have influenced me.  Of course, none of this would be possible without my students.” Blalock and Stephenson were selected from a pool of distinguished teachers, in their respective school classifications, from school districts throughout the state.  Each received award packages that included gifts and educational resources as well as a $2,000 check from Dream Teachers and a laptop from Dell Computers. The College of Education has the largest student enrollment of any college at Louisiana Tech and has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954 – longer than any other institution in Louisiana. In addition to its degree programs, The College offers innovative educational and service programs such as the IDEA Place, the NASA Educator Resource Center, the Psychological Services Clinic, the Professional Development and Research Institute for the Blind, and A.E. Phillips Lab School.