Seven teachers were named "Teachers of Excellence" last week, including teachers in Bethel Park, Pine-Richland, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Yough and Penn-Trafford in Westmoreland County and Greenville Area in Mercer County.

The Teacher Excellence Center selected the seven from 100 finalists who had been chosen from 5,000 nominees from 81 school districts. Each of the seven winners receives a $2,500 grant for their school along with a field trip for their students to various civic and cultural attractions.

The winners are:

Shelley Byers, fifth grade, various subjects, Hance Elementary, Pine-Richland

Susan Frantz, eighth grade, English, Pine-Richland Middle School

Cathleen Laird, grades K-4, library science, Mendon Elementary School, Yough

Leonard Lavelle, high school, music, Bethel Park High School.

D. Scott Mickey, third grade; reading, language arts, math and science; McCullough Elementary, Penn-Trafford, Westmoreland County

Ronald Myers, high school, computer applications, Greenville Junior/Senior High School, Greenville Area, Mercer County

Albert Puskaric, grades 11 and 12, pre-engineering, Allderdice High School, Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The Teacher Excellence Center is a nonprofit organization which focuses on teacher professional development and recognition.