ST. LOUIS, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Arch Coal Foundation today kicked off its annual K-12 teacher-recognition programs in West Virginia, Wyoming and Utah for the 2009-2010 school year.

"Arch Coal values education and the star teachers who help their students achieve great things," said Deck S. Slone, vice president of government, investor and public affairs for Arch Coal, Inc. "We appreciate the commitment and professionalism of the many exemplary teachers who help prepare the next generation of leaders."

A total of 27 classroom teachers will earn the 2010 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award, along with $3,500 cash. It is the longest running, privately sponsored teacher-recognition program in the states of West Virginia and Wyoming, with 22 years and 10 years respectively. In Utah, the Foundation's fourth annual program focuses on four counties - Carbon, Emery, Sanpete and Sevier - near Arch's Canyon Fuel mining operations.

Teachers are nominated for the Arch Coal Foundation awards by the public. Nominations will be accepted online until Jan. 8, 2010. Award recipients are selected by a blue-ribbon panel of their peers.

Through its Teacher Achievement Awards program, Arch Coal and its predecessor companies have honored 333 teachers with more than $850,000 in personal, cash awards since 1988.

St. Louis-based Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI - News) is one of the largest U.S. coal producers, with revenues of $3.0 billion in 2008. Through its national network of mines, Arch supplies cleaner-burning, low-sulfur coal to U.S. power producers to fuel roughly 6 percent of the nation's electricity. The company also ships coal to domestic and international steel manufacturers as well as international power producers. Learn more at www.archteacherawards.com and www.youtube.com/archcoalcares.