Ron A. Skillern, a teacher at Bowling Green High School, was named a finalist for the Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award.

The winners will be named for each school level in a Frankfort ceremony Oct. 19.

Skillern and eight others are among 24 educators who were named 2017 Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award (TAA) winners. They were chosen based on their scores from the first round of judging, which was conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators. Applications included information on nominees’ teaching philosophies, teaching experiences, involvement in their respective communities and letters of recommendation.

Classroom visits and personal interviews with each of the nine semifinalists will result in the selection of the 2017 Elementary School, Middle School and High School Teachers of the Year. A culmination of these scores results in the selection of the 2017 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. This individual then will represent Kentucky in the 2017 National Teacher of the Year competition.

Valvoline will present the 24 Teacher Achievement Award recipients with cash awards and certificates at the awards ceremony in Frankfort. In addition to cash awards, the three Kentucky Teachers of the Year also will receive custom-designed glassware commemorating their accomplishments, and all 24 educators will be honored at a special luncheon that day.