ST. LOUIS, May 12, 2016 – The Arch Coal Foundation recently named 10 exceptional Wyoming classroom teachers as recipients of the prestigious Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. It is Wyoming's longest-running, privately sponsored teacher recognition program, now in its 16th year.

The announcement was made by John W. Eaves, Arch Coal's chairman and chief executive officer. Each recipient was honored at a special assembly held in front of students and faculty at his or her individual school.

The 2016 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award recipients are:

"Each year, we are honored to recognize 10 outstanding Wyoming teachers with an Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award," Eaves said. "Once again, this year's recipients are among the best of the best from around the state. They represent the many Wyoming educators who daily bring a sense of excitement to the classroom and a sense of purpose to the learning experience. We congratulate each of them for their ability to inspire and to encourage their students to reach ever-higher levels of achievement."

"Wyoming was recently recognized as having the best education system among Western states and eighth best nationally. A state cannot have those rankings without great teachers," said Gov. Matt Mead. "I always look forward to partnering with Arch to recognize outstanding teachers and celebrate their success. These teachers make a difference in children's lives. I congratulate and thank each of them."

Teachers are nominated by the public, and a blue-ribbon panel of past awards recipients selects the annual winners. Each recipient is presented with a distinctive trophy, a classroom plaque and a personal cash award.

The Teacher Achievement Awards are underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation and are supported in program promotion by the Office of the Governor, the Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Library Community, the Wyoming Education Association (WEA), Taco John's and Loaf 'N Jug.

"Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future," said Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. "Their impact reaches not only their students and their school, but also their community and our state. I'm so proud to have a multitude of excellent educators in Wyoming and grateful that Arch Coal has supported teachers through this award for generations. Arch Coal is a wonderful partner in education and in recognizing, even in difficult times, the significant and valuable contribution made by these teachers."

"The governor and legislators have made education a priority in Wyoming through investing in a great system and our Wyoming students; those dollars are paying off. Significant funding for K-12 comes directly from the mining industry and I would like to thank them for all they do to educate students in our state, as our students are truly our future. Recent reports show that Wyoming students lead the West, and the WEA is confident that support for a strong education in Wyoming will continue in the future," said WEA President Kathy Vetter.

Arch Coal and the Arch Coal Foundation have a long history of supporting educational and community causes in Wyoming. The Arch Coal Foundation also supports teacher recognition or grants programs in West Virginia and Colorado. Information about each of this year's 10 recipients, as well as past recipients, is posted at archteacherawards.com.

U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc. is a top coal producer for the global steel and power generation industries, reliably serving customers worldwide. Its network of large-scale, low-cost mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation. Arch Coal's Thunder Basin Coal Company operates the Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines in Wyoming. For more information, visit archcoal.com.