WESTBROOK – Tim Eisenhart, Westbrook High School math teacher, has been nominated as the city’s candidate for 2012’s Maine Teacher of the Year.

Eisenhart was selected from a field of seven nominees. Each candidate represented one of Westbrook’s schools, said Peter Lancia, director of teaching and learning.

“They represent innovative classroom practice, leadership among their colleagues and models of partnerships with families and the community,” he said.

Eisenhart has taught and coached in Westbrook since 2003, Lancia said. He will be honored in March at a State House dinner, presentation and reception along with other nominees around the state.

“Tim represents our faculty and our school community well,” Lancia said.

Lancia explained that Westbrook’s process for recognizing teachers of the year is unique in the state of Maine. He said colleagues nominate teachers in their buildings in recognition of their outstanding work and influence on students and the school community. A committee of former teachers of the year visit each classroom and interview the nominees before selecting one as the district’s Teacher of the Year, he said.

Eisenhart could ultimately be named Maine Teacher of the Year for 2012; Lancia, Todd Fields, Marguerite Rhoner and Gloria Noyes have brought the honor home to Westbrook in the past 12 years, Lancia said.

The other nominees in Westbrook were Cathyellen Hebert, a second-grade teacher at Prides Corner School; Valerie Dominski, a first- and second-grade teacher at Saccarappa School and recent recipient of National Board Certification; Sally Chaplin, a fifth-grade teacher at Congin School; Emily Parr, a special education teacher at Canal School; Mike Makin, a seventh- and eighth-grade math and science teacher at Westbrook Middle School; and Brenda Dolloff, a business teacher at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center.

There was a reception held for all nominees before Wednesday night’s School Committee meeting. Lancia formally announced the nomination at the meeting.