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SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said he is thrilled and proud that Lewis Chappelear, a 2008 California Teacher of the Year and the state's nominee for National Teacher of the Year, has been selected as one of four finalists for the nation's top teaching honor.

"Lewis Chappelear is an enthusiastic, dynamic educator who symbolizes what teaching is all about. He teaches, he engages, he challenges his students to try, to persevere, to succeed. He sees their potential long before they discover it in themselves. He is truly an inspiration for California and would be for the nation as well. I wish him the very best."

Chappelear, who teaches engineering design at James Monroe High School in North Hills in the Los Angeles Unified School District, was selected in November as one of five California Teachers of the Year for 2008 and was nominated by O'Connell to compete for the prestigious National Teacher of the Year honor.

In his application for California Teachers of the Year, Chappelear wrote: "My philosophy on teaching is very simple: I make emotional connections with every student and make the learning relevant. I truly believe that everything in the classroom has to be interdisciplinary. I am not just a robotics teacher; I teach English, math, science, and history. I am also a mentor, a guide, and a critical link in my students' lives."

Chappelear earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Boston University in 1994, a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1995, and a California Clear Teaching Credential in math, physics, and electronics in 2001. He received a National Board Certification in 2005. He can be reached at James Monroe High School, 818-830-4200.

Since the National Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952, California has had six National Teachers of the Year, including the first National Teacher. The most recent was in 2002 when Chauncey Veatch, a history and social studies teacher at Coachella Valley High School in Thermal, received the honor. The 2008 winner is expected to be named by April.

Additional information regarding the National Teacher of the Year Program is available through the Council of Chief State School Officers Web site [http://www.ccsso.org/] (Outside Source), based in Washington, D.C.