A Liberty Middle School teacher is under consideration for the New York State Teacher of the Year award, presented by the state Education Department.

Melissa Murphy, a sixth grade ELA teacher, is one of only seven teachers in the state to make it to the third round, chosen by the Teacher of the Year Council.

“This accomplishment speaks to the powerful investment you and your school community have made in education,” the letter announcing the selection read.

The next step in the process is a site visit by three or four members of the selection committee in May. The site visit will involve a lesson observation as well as interviews with staff, administration and students and a conversation with Ms. Murphy.

If she moves on in the process, she will be interviewed by the selection committee in June, with the Teacher of the Year named near the start of next school year.