Marlins finalists announced for 'PEOPLE' "All-Star Teachers" program

MIAMI - Three Marlins finalists were named as part of Major League Baseball's "Target Presents PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" campaign, which celebrates remarkable current and retired teachers who make an impact on the lives of their students and communities. The three Marlins finalists are Claudia Perez, Keri Porter and David Voytek.

One winner from each of the 30 MLB Clubs will be included in All-Star Week activities and recognized during the pregame ceremony of the 2014 MLB All-Star Game on FOX. An "All-Star Teacher" winner will be featured in 'PEOPLE' during the week of the MLB All-Star Game.

Claudia Perez, from Miami, teaches at Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center. Her ultimate goals are to inspire and influence her students, holding high standards and expectations to empower them to accomplish things they did not think they were capable of, attempting to reach all students, no matter what. Perez received the Rookie Teacher of the Year Award in 2007, Teacher of the Year Award in 2014 and the Amazing Panther Award. She also received the SPOT Success Perpetual Award from Miami-Dade County public schools. Perez holds a bachelor's degree in business administration/management information systems and a master's in curriculum and instruction.

Keri Porter, from Fort Lauderdale, teaches to medically fragile students and students with autism at Wingate Oaks Center. Although all of her students have significant disabilities, each gets to create high-quality art projects using whatever modification necessary - augmentative communication, physical assistance or adapted tools - into the lessons. Porter promotes civic responsibility through integrated art instruction. She started recycling efforts and there are now 20 projects school-wide, including adapting crayons from students with physical handicaps and recycling old tires, mosaic stones and creating decorated rain barrels from recycled drums. Porter received the Broward County Visual Arts Teacher of the Year, Wingate Oaks Teacher of the Year and the BAEA Teacher of the Year for Exceptional Students.

David Voytek, from Lake Worth, is a media specialist for North Grade Elementary School, a school for disadvantaged children. His interest in reading took him from the third grade chair to becoming a media specialist with an impact on the wider population of children throughout the entire school district. Voytek organizes an annual trip to Washington, as well as fundraising activities like car washes, a garden club and painting hall murals throughout the school. He has produced award-winning student videos, telecast district-wide, that have earned thousands of dollars to benefit the school.

In conjunction with this MLB campaign, the Marlins launched their Fishing for Teachers program, which provides Marlins employees a distinct way to recognize their most impactful teachers. Throughout the 2014 season, teachers have been honored on the field at Marlins Park in a ceremony and presented with an engraved bat prior to Tuesday night games. The program will continue for the remainder of the season.

The winners of the Target presents "Target Presents PEOPLE All-Star Teachers" campaign will be revealed on July 8. For more information, please visit www.allstarteachers.com.