A fifth grade teacher​ who’s been at Elkins Park for six years, Dr. Andrew Vassall was informed this week he will be advancing to the semifinal round of the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year competition.

The semifinal round consists of an early March telephone interview with judges which will consist of six questions, four of which Dr. Vassall will have beforehand and two of which he will have only topics for before the interview. Following the phone interviews, finalists will be announced by March 28.

The 1990 Cheltenham High School graduate is the author of the children’s books “The Black Crayon” and “Family Means Love.”