A Dacula Middle School teacher has been selected as one of six Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year finalists.

Celisa Edwards, along with Erica Leach of Walnut Grove Elementary, Deborah Johnson of Berkmar Middle, Heidi Mikulecky of Richards Middle, Jay Nebel of Norcross High, and Dean Landers of Peachtree Ridge High were chosen from a field of 26 semifinalists and 131 local school Teachers of the Year.

Edwards, who has spent 21 years in education (eight with GCPS), credits her middle school mathematics teacher and a close friend with encouraging her to go into teaching. Edwards joined GCPS in 2004 and moved to Dacula Middle in 2007 where she teaches all subjects to seventh grade students.

According to a GCPS press release, Edwards earned her undergraduate degree in Natural Science from the Master’s College, a master’s degree in Integrating Technology into the Classroom from Walden University, and is currently pursuing a specialist’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University.

A committee comprised of former teachers of the year, local school administrators and central office support staff will decide which of the six finalists will be honored as the 2013 Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced Nov. 1, 2012.