Catherine Webb, a speech pathologist and special education teacher at Narrows Elementary/Middle School, will now vie for the National Teacher of the Year title. Officials with the Virginia Department of Education announced the state-level award Friday at a ceremony in Richmond.

A committee including last year's state winner and Roanoke City teacher Stephanie Doyle selected Webb. She was chosen from among seven other teachers representing each of the state's educational regions.

As a winning teacher, Webb will receive $7,500 and a classroom technology package.

Neither Webb nor the school's principal, Rick Franklin, was at the school Monday afternoon to discuss how the school will use its award.

While most of her tenure has been working with students who have speech problems, in 2006, Webb turned her attention toward a growing issue for schools and parents -- autism, according to a news release from the VDOE. That year, she received a certificate of graduate studies in autism. Since then, Webb has worked as the school system's autism consultant and instructor in the division's three elementary schools.

Giles is in the state's Region 7, an area that encompasses 19 Southwest Virginia school districts, including Radford and Pulaski County.

The seven other regional teachers of the year received $500 awards and a classroom technology package as well.

The 2010 National Teacher of the Year will be announced next spring in a White House ceremony. Two previous Virginia teachers of the year -- Mary Bicouvaris in 1989 and B. Philip Bigler in 1998 -- have gone on to become National Teacher of the Year.