CUMMING — Last year’s top educator for Forsyth County Schools has been named one of 10 finalists for Georgia’s 2017 Teacher of the Year.

Marlo Miranda, the automotive technology instructor at Forsyth Central High School, was chosen from a pool of 155 applicants, all of whom have been named the top teacher in their school district.

Miranda received the local designation in 2015.

“Marlo exemplifies what it means to be an effective teacher in the 21st century,” said Mitch Young, principal at the school in Cumming. “He is a relationship-builder. He helps students to make connections to other content areas and is passionate about learning.”

Districts can submit their top teachers on different timelines, said Jennifer Caracciolo, spokeswoman for the district. That’s why Miranda was named even though he was not the most recent honoree.

Andrew Poor, band teacher at South Forsyth Middle, was honored with the title this spring and will be eligible for the state-level contest next year.

A Forsyth County educator has never won the state teacher of the year recognition, Caracciolo said.

Applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others.

The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

Throughout the upcoming weeks, judges will conduct video observations and interviews and hear speeches from the finalists. The winner will be announced in mid-May.

The 2017 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. He or she will also be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

Last year’s state-level winner was Ernie Lee, an IB history, civics and U.S. government teacher from Windsor Forest High School in Savannah.