or


[04/29/14 - 01:14 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Michael" Announces Five Finalists in "Live's Top Teacher Search"
All five will travel to "Live's" New York City studio to appear on the show during "Top Teacher Week," May 12-16.

[via press release from Disney-ABC Domestic Television]

"LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL" ANNOUNCES FIVE FINALISTS IN "LIVE'S TOP TEACHER SEARCH"

Hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan Reveal the Five Educators Who Will be Honored During "Top Teacher Week" May 12-16, 2014 on "LIVE"

NEW YORK, NY - April 29, 2014 - This morning on "LIVE with Kelly and Michael," hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan announced the five stellar educators chosen as finalists for the 2014 edition of "LIVE's Top Teacher Search." All five will travel to "LIVE's" New York City studio to appear on the show during "Top Teacher Week," May 12-16, 2014.

Back in March, "LIVE" announced the return of the show's annual search to honor teachers from across the country for making their schools better, and for their service and commitment to their students and communities. Last Friday, April 25, the hosts announced the 12 semi-finalists, and then it was up to the viewers to vote for their five favorites. After each finalist has been honored during the week of May 12, "LIVE's" viewers will cast their votes for the overall Top Teacher, whose name will be announced on May 20, and who will take home the grand prize of a 2015 Ford Escape.

The 2014 finalists are:

ATHENA DAVIS, English/AP English/Holocaust Literature, Cleveland High School, Cleveland, Tenn. - Davis was nominated by the parent of one of her students who described her as "an amazing and creative teacher," who "inspires greatness from her students" and "is an inspiration to all who come in contact with her." Herself an alumna of Cleveland High, Davis spearheads a faculty/student book club, sponsors the students' participation in Model UN, co-chairs the prom committee and works to seek out donations for students with money issues; and encourages her Holocaust Literature classes to take action with regard to current social issues.

JOHN MOTCHKAVITZ, Business Technology Dept. Head, Wm. A. Shine Great Neck South High, Great Neck, N.Y. - Motchkavitz, or "Motch" as he's known to members of the school and community, was nominated by fellow teacher Sheryl Burger and the rest of the Business/Technology Department at their school. In the nomination, Burger noted "When we think of a person that makes a difference both in the classroom, around school and in his community, Motch is that guy." Involved on all levels at Great Neck South High - Burger describes him as "the backbone" of the school - he also gives back to his community as a volunteer firefighter.

STACIE STARR, Intervention Specialist, Elyria High School, Elyria, Ohio - Maryann Verlotti, mother of one of Starr's students, wrote to "LIVE" to describe the profound effect Starr has had on her son, who, as a young child, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. She talked about watching her son "blossom into the strong young man he is today" through his participation in Starr's mentoring group, and describes Starr as "the hardest-working, most selfless woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!"

NEBOJSA STOJKOVIC, Math Teacher, Walled Lake Central High School, Walled Lake, Mich. - Stojkovic was nominated by former student athlete Kelsey Prena, who gave him the ultimate compliment in her nomination letter: "I would not be the person I am today if I had not had him as a coach." In addition to utilizing fun and innovative methods to teach math, Stojkovic also coaches track and field, and beyond the classroom is a dedicated community volunteer who heads up a non-profit organization that raises money for a local children's hospital and for families in the community with high medical costs. Prena asserted that "He has single-handedly bettered the lives of his students, athletes, community members, and anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting him."

WENDY TICKEL, Special Needs Teacher, Belmont Elementary School, Roanoke Rapids, N.C. - Cindy Gentry, whose child was in Tickel's Special Needs class for seven years, wrote to "LIVE" and described Tickel's extraordinary efforts on behalf of her students, all of whom "have a variety of educational, physical, and special needs that cannot be met in a regular classroom." Gentry noted that "Not only does she teach her students the individual academic skills they need daily, but she goes far above and beyond what a normal teacher would ever be called upon to do." Local field trips as well as overnight travels provide her students "with experiences to assist them in preparing for life outside of school," and helping them to raise funds for the trips helps to "instill the values of responsibility and working hard to achieve a collective goal."

"LIVE with Kelly and Michael" is distributed in national syndication by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael Gelman, "LIVE" airs in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Visit "LIVE" on the web at LIVEKellyandMichael.com, on Facebook, or follow "LIVE" on Twitter and Instagram, @KellyandMichael.





  [april 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· LIVE WITH KELLY AND MARK (SYNDICATION)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.