State education officials honored Affton High School teacher Cathy Cartier as this year’s Missouri 2012-13 Teacher of the Year Monday night in Jefferson City.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education selected Cartier as this year’s teacher of the year from six finalists from around the state. She will represent Missouri in the annual National Teacher of the Year program.

Cartier has taught English at Affton High School for the past nine years. She earned her Master of Education Degree and certification to teach secondary English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

"Cathy is an excellent teacher ‒ the type of teacher we need at schools throughout Missouri," said Karla Eslinger, assistant commissioner for the Office of Educator Quality at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. "She sets high expectations for her students and then helps them reach those goals."