Bob Palmer said the award he recently received validates what he does in the classroom.

Palmer, a Hampton High School teacher, was one of five Western Pennsylvania teachers to be named a Teacher of Excellence for 2007-08.

"It feels very good because the process they use is so rigid," says Palmer, 61, a human anatomy and physiology teacher.

The competition started with 3,000 nominees who were narrowed down after four stages and six months to reveal the top six at a ceremony in April. Four other Hampton teachers made it to the top 101. They are Alyse Baker, Teresa Coyner, Mary Ann Librich and Amy McTighe.

The first three rounds of the competition included lists of essay questions that the teachers had to answer. The fourth consisted of a 30-minute interview. The winners were selected by combining the scores from all the rounds.

Palmer said it feels especially good after looking at all the other top educators in the room during the ceremony.

"There were so many great teachers out there," he says.

Palmer's course attracts five to six sections of seniors every year. He says the attraction is multi-faceted, from the material to the high-end software used.

"It's rigorous but fun to take," he says. "There are a lot of aspects there that draw those kids in."

Each Teacher of Excellence was awarded a $2,500 grant for their school, along with a field trip for their students to such places as the Andy Warhol Museum, Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, The National Aviary, the Fort Pitt Museum, RiverQuest and Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.

Palmer plans to use his grant for materials for his courses.

This year is the first time a Hampton teacher was named a Teacher of Excellence. The award is given out by the Teacher Excellence Center, which searches for the best teachers in 10 Western Pennsylvania counties.