Bellevue Elementary School teacher Pattie Dawson has been named the Sonoma County Teacher of the Year by the Sonoma County Office of Education.

Dawson, a 15-year veteran who has spent her entire career Bellevue’s Primrose Avenue campus, was selected from a pool of nominees from throughout Sonoma County’s 40 school districts.

Dawson’s classroom was described as a place where “creative, stimulating, and interactive learning takes place and she is highly resourceful in helping her students succeed,” according to the county.

Dawson is a teacher leader in the district and has been a facilitator for Project LEAD, a program aimed at improving math instruction and achievement. Dawson has also mentored new teachers in the district and served as an advisor to student teachers from Sonoma State University.

Dean Knight, science teacher at Sonoma Valley High School, was runner up.

Also honored where Michelle Franci, resource specialist teacher at Mark West Elementary School; Judy Sovel, fifth grade teacher at McNear Elementary in Petaluma; Elizabeth Street, eighth grade teacher at Kenilworth Junior High in Petaluma; and Lynette Williamson, English teacher and debate coach at Analy High School in Sebastopol.