ST. LOUIS, Sept. 10, 2014 - The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards, the longest running, privately sponsored teacher recognition programs in West Virginia and Wyoming, kicked off today in the two states, according to Deck S. Slone, senior vice president of Arch Coal, Inc. and president of the Arch Coal Foundation.

"By supporting classroom teaching excellence, we are investing in both our children and our communities," Slone said. "'Education' offers many areas that deserve support, but our foundation has continued to concentrate on the critical area of teaching prowess, because talented teachers are able to achieve incredible results in their classrooms, overcoming all obstacles. The teachers we recognize are examples to their colleagues and know how to positively change the lives of their students."

The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards Program provides each recipient with a $3,500 personal cash award as well as widespread recognition. Program nominations, which can be made online at archteacherawards.com, will close Jan. 5, 2015.

"The Arch Coal Foundation program is recognized for attributes that set it apart from others," Slone said. "In our unique program, the public nominates these special teachers, and then a blue-ribbon panel of past recipients judges the applications. In addition, the program is supported by state departments of education and teacher associations in both states."

Earlier, the Arch Coal Foundation announced it also will continue to underwrite its teacher grants in Delta County, Colo. More information about all of the foundation's education support programs is posted online at archcoal.com/community/education.

St. Louis-based Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is one of the world's top coal producers for the global steel and power generation industries, serving customers on five continents. Its network of mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation. The company controls more than 5 billion tons of high-quality metallurgical and thermal coal reserves, with access to all major railroads, inland waterways and a growing number of seaborne trade channels. For more information, visit archcoal.com and responsible.archcoal.com.