Liberty County special-education pre-K teacher Sara Taylor is among those chosen as finalists for 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year, State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge announced Thursday.

The 10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 150 applicants who were selected as the Teacher of the Year in their school districts. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.

“I congratulate our 10 Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists and those who applied,” Barge said. “We have always had a very impressive group of teachers make the top 10, and I know this year will be no different.”

During the next several weeks, a panel of judges will conduct video observations and interview each of the finalists. The finalists also will give a speech at a luncheon sponsored by Georgia Power in May. The winner will be announced at the Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet on June 1, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park.

The 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. The winner also will be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.