Janine Tuss '00, formerly of Malta/Dodson, was nominated for Nevada Teacher of the Year by her administrator, Barbara Floto. Janine has been teaching 1st grade in Round Mountain, Nevada, for the past nine years. Mrs. Floto shares that Janine "is a natural born teacher who strives to consistently offer more than the academic necessities to reach students and to help them realize the importance to learn and grow and become their wonderful selves!"

Criteria for the selection includes being a skillful dedicated teachers who plan to actively continue classroom teaching. They should take an active role in their community as well as their school and demonstrate professional poise and articulateness. The most important criterion in evaluating nominees is their innovation and ability to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

Once a candidate is selected Nevada will honor the selection with a luncheon and gifts donated by the sponsors of this event. The teacher will then attend a national conference with all of the other state's candidates at which time finalists for the National Teacher of the Year will be announced. Each state's candidate will be invited to a presentation by the President in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House and will attend special events in the nation's capital.

Janine graduated from MSU Northern in 2000. Janine is married to Spike Tuss and they have three young children, Connor, Lauren and Denvyr. Janine's area family include parents, Sid and Kari Hould, brother Scott, and grandmother Myrtle Hould.