Michelle Best has been named Ohio's Region 8 Teacher of the Year for 2015.

Best teaches at Austintown Middle School as a Language Arts teacher. Along with teaching eight grade English, Best also serves as a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teaching Fellow. Best has presented nationally on the topic of Holocaust education for several years now.

There are 11 regional Teacher of the Year winners chosen annually as well as one overall Teacher of the Year. Each regional winner was chosen by a selection committee directed by a state board member and composed of superintendents, principals, teachers and leaders of businesses and parent organizations.

At state level, regional winners were reviewed by a panel of representatives from a range of professional organizations as well as teachers who have been recognized for their teaching excellence. The selection was then narrowed down to five finalists who were interviewed.