North Carolina Resident Named National Online Teacher of the Year

Leslie Fetzer of Holly Springs, North Carolina, an online biology teacher at North Carolina Virtual Public School, has been named America’s 2012 National Online Teacher of the Year for K-12 education. The honor is awarded by SREB and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). 

“Leveraging the power of the Internet for learning allows students to have access to courses they need regardless of where they’re located or what time of day is most convenient for them,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan by video at the award presentation during the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative’s Symposium on Virtual Teaching and Learning in Atlanta in March 2012. 

Quality online learning “cannot exist without phenomenally effective and committed teachers who understand how to use technology to personalize the learning experience,” Duncan said.

Now in its third year, the SREB/iNACOL National Online Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding online teacher for exceptional contributions to online K-12 education. For the 2012 award, nominees of online educators in public schools and state virtual schools poured in from 26 states.  

From that group of high-quality teachers, the review committee selected Fetzer and two other finalists: Tracy Seiler from the South Carolina Virtual School Program and Asherrie Yisrael from Georgia Virtual School.