Finalists named for Oklahoma's top teacher

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Nine women and three men comprise the list of finalists for Oklahoma's teacher of the year, state Superintendent Sandy Garrett announced Thursday. <br><br>The finalists were

Friday, July 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Nine women and three men comprise the list of finalists for Oklahoma's teacher of the year, state Superintendent Sandy Garrett announced Thursday.

The finalists were chosen from among educators who won Teacher of the Year at their local school districts. Four regional selection committees of teachers and Parent-Teacher Association representatives made the final selections.

The winner will be announced at the State Fair of Oklahoma in September.

The finalists are:

_ Lynette Balch, a first-grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary in Woodward.

_ Teresa Billy, a first-grade teacher at Dierks Elementary in Broken Bow.

_ Kathleen Blake, an art teacher at Edmond Memorial High School.

_ James Kerr, a science teacher at the eighth-grade center at the Union district in Tulsa.

_ Earl Dalke, a history teacher at Davis High School.

_ Chris LeGrande, a science teacher at Guthrie Junior High.

_ Susan McLemore, a physical education teacher at Ralph Downs Elementary in the Putnam City district.

_ Ginger Mendenhall, a fifth-grade teacher at Marshall Elementary in Tulsa.

_ Toni Fredeman Pantier, a gifted and talented teacher for fifth-and sixth-graders at the Academic Center in the Midwest City-Del City district.

_ Diana Reece, a science teacher at Bokoshe Elementary School.

_ Julie Wallis, an English teacher at Bixby High School.

_ Julia Wilhite, a Spanish teacher at Yukon High School.