OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha high school social studies instructor has been named Nebraska 2016 Teacher of the Year.

On Monday the state Education Department announced the selection of Tim Royers. He graduated from Millard West High School in 2003 and returned to teach there in 2007.

The four other finalists were Lori Boudreau, of Papillion-La Vista High School in Papillion; Lynn Hill, of Millard South High School in Omaha; Daniel Schaben, of Arapahoe Public School in Arapahoe’ and Jayson Stoddard, of Hastings Middle School in Hastings.

A panel of Nebraska educators tapped Royers for the honor. He will participate in the national Teacher of the Year competition later this year.