A Nazareth Area School District instructor is one of 39 semifinalists for Pennsylvania's 2013 Teacher of the Year award, the state Department of Education announced Tuesday.

April Silimperi, a teacher at Shafer Elementary School, is the only semifinalist from Northampton County.

Janet Miltenberger, who teachers in the Southern Lehigh School District in Lehigh County, is also a semifinalist.

The 39 teachers were initially nominated for the award by students, parents, colleagues and members of their communities, according to a press release. The semifinalists were then chosen by a selection committee of the National State Teachers of the Year-Pennsylvania Chapter.

The 12 finalists will be announced in early May, and the Pennsylvania 2013 Teacher of the Year will be announced in December.