The Fresno County Office of Education, in partnership with the Educational Employees Credit Union, will host its annual Educator of the Year Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The celebration marks the opening of the fall term by honoring the nominees and finalists of the school employee, administrator, and teacher of the year award. These individuals have been recognized as the most outstanding educators from among all classified employees, administrators and teachers in the thirty-two school districts in Fresno County.

The nine finalists include:

School employee of the year: Lea McCrillis, Clovis Unified; Salvador Cisneros, Burrel Union Elementary; Sergio Contreras, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified.

Administrator of the year: Wilma Hashimoto, Fresno County Office of Education; Edward Gomes, Fresno Unified; James Bushman, University High School Charter.

Teacher of the year: William Magnusson, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified; Nathan Whittington, Sanger Unified; Tami Frediani, Clovis Unified.

The teacher of the year will represent Fresno County in the California competition.

To reward all nominees for their dedication and exemplary work, the Educational Employees Credit Union commissioned Clement Renzi (who passed away in December 2009) to design a miniature bronze sculpture that captures the spirit of his original, "Three R's." Each winner will receive this bronze and each nominee will receive a signed, framed, limited edition art print of the original sculpture.

Also attending the awards ceremony will be district school boards, superintendents, and principals, as well as county officials, and members of the selection committee.

The public may attend the awards ceremony, which will be held at the William Saroyan Theatre, 700 M St. in downtown Fresno, and may pick up free tickets at any branch of the Educational Employees Credit Union.