Two teachers from Pasadena area public schools were named semifinalists for the 2012 Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year award, according to a press release.

Mary Jo Bedsworth, from Lake Shore Elementary, and Sarah Jester, from Northeast High School, are among the 15 educators named to the semifinalist list.

Five finalists for the 2012 Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year will be announced later this month, and the winner will represent the county in the Maryland State Teacher of the Year competition.

A group of 50 Anne Arundel County Teachers will be honored at the 26th annual Excellence in Education banquet at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum on April 16.

In addition to the public school awards, three private school teachers will contend for the 2012 Private School Teacher of the Year award. Eagle Cove School teacher Vicki Dabrowka is among the finalists for this award and was recently featured in an article about the school's math month.