A sixth-grade teacher in Lancaster County’s Penn Manor School District has been named the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
Elizabeth Raff, who teaches English and social studies at Pequea Elementary School, was announced as the winner of this annual contest during a state Department of Education professional development conference in Hershey on Monday.
“Teachers like Elizabeth Raff provide care, encouragement, and inspiration to their students even in a normal year, but their efforts are especially critical during challenging and unprecedented times,” said Education Secretary Noe Ortega in a statement.
“The consistency and dedication that Pennsylvania’s educators bring to their classrooms ensure that students can learn, grow, and thrive in safe and supportive atmospheres, and we applaud Ms. Raff and all of her fellow nominees for their commitment to their school communities.”
Raff was chosen from among 12 finalists from around the state. As Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year, she will travel the state, meet, and collaborate with other educators. She also will represent the commonwealth in next year’s National Teacher of the Year competition. Since 1957, Pennsylvania has had five teachers make it to the finalist round in the national competition.
The Teacher of the Year program is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year.
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.