STAFF REPORT

Brian Hanish, a social studies teacher at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, has been named a "Teacher of the Year" by the Wal-Mart Foundation.

The selection was announced this week by the high school and the Wal-Mart store in Palmyra. Each Wal-Mart store may select a top teacher and Hanish was nominated by Nokomis Principal Arnold Shorey.

With the designation, Nokomis will receive $1,000 from the Wal-Mart Foundation to spend on schools supplies and equipment and Hanish gets a $100 store gift card, Shorey said.

Hanish "strongly believes in rigor, relevance and relationships," Shorey said. "He is very popular with our students while maintaining the highest of standards."

Hanish, of Hampden, has taught social studies at Nokomis for 12 years and has been department head for the last eight.