English teacher in Corrections Department gets annual honor

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Teacher of the Year Award has gone to an English teacher who instructs inmates in the state prison system.

Kimberly Piper-Stoddard was honored Wednesday at a ceremony at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men in Concord. She's a teacher at Granite State High School, which is located within the walls of the men and women's prisons.

Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said Piper-Stoddard teaches students who have gone down the wrong path, but are working to turn their lives around. One student said Piper-Stoddard is excited and enthusiastic about what she teaches, and that's created "an overwhelming positive change in me."

Finalists are Jeremy Brown, Littleton High School; Sarah Grossi, Con-Val Regional High School; John "Drew" Groves, Bow High School; Barbara Milliken, Oyster River High School; and Christine Stilwell, Robert J. Lister Academy.