Raleigh, N.C. — Jessica Garner, a Spanish teacher at Porter Ridge High School in Union County Schools, was named North Carolina Teacher of the Year Tuesday night at an awards ceremony in Raleigh.

"I am so honored to share in this challenge and honored to be chosen to represent the wonderful teachers of the state of North Carolina," Garner said.

Garner has been at Porter Ridge for four years. She serves as the chairman of the foreign language department and as a teacher mentor at the school.

Garner earned her Bachelor of Arts in Modern Foreign Language from James Madison University and her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has studied abroad at the University of Salamanca in Spain. Before moving to N.C., she taught in schools in Indianapolis, Ind., and Woodstock, Va.

The teacher of the year recognition program is sponsored by AT&T.