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PARKERSBURG - Joe Smith, a physical education teacher at Vienna Elementary School, has been recognized as Wood County Schools' top teacher for the 2010 school year.

Smith was honored Tuesday at a Wood County Board of Education meeting. Smith began working for Wood County Schools in 1991 when he was hired as a physical education teacher at Jefferson Elementary Center. Smith transferred to Vienna Elementary in 2006.

"I've had the opportunity to work with good kids, good parents and wonderful support," Smith said.

At Tuesday's meeting, Vienna Elementary Principal Julie Handley also presented Smith with a banner which will hang at the school over the coming weeks.

"We really appreciate him," Handley said. "Joe helps out with just about everything."

The Wood County Teacher of the Year honor is bestowed each year on an outstanding local educator who is selected by a group of his or her peers and past honor recipients.

Smith also recently competed for Teacher of the Year honors at the state level.

In 2003, Smith was named West Virginia Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The organization presented Smith with a lifetime service award in 2007 and he now serves as president of the association.

Smith received his national board certification in early and middle childhood physical education in 2004.