FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

NEW YORK STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

5^th Grade Teacher from Queens Named

Meriden , CT - June 15, 2004 - Teachers’ Insurance Plan, an auto insurance program exclusively for educators, announced the winner of New York’s 2003-2004 “Teacher of the Year” award. The award was given to Anne Marie Todes, who is a 5th Grade teacher at Belle Harbor School (PS 114Q) in Belle Harbor, Queens.

Ms. Todes was presented with a check for $1,000 and her school received a $500 grant at a ceremony recently held during the school’s Renaissance Fair, which Ms. Todes organizes each year.

“It was a very tough call,” said Stephen T. Zerio of Teachers’ Insurance Plan. “We received hundreds of nominations, but our panel had to choose just one for the State and her commitment, ability and dedication won out.”

Ms. Todes was cited for her selflessness, caring and energetic leadership. The school’s principal, Brian O’Connell, said in his nomination form, “In this school community’s eyes, Ms. Todes is not just ‘Our Teacher of the Year,’ she is the ‘Teacher of All Years, Every Year.’ “ Ms. Todes has been teaching in the New York City public school system for more than 30 years.

Nominations were open to New York’s more than 200,000 accredited teachers and the winner was selected by a panel of judges that included both public and private school teachers, administrators and union officials, as well as Teachers’ Insurance Plan senior management.