Who’s the best teacher in Southwest Roanoke County?

Last year, readers voted that honor to Amanda Amos (North Cross School), followed by Dustin McCollum (Hidden Valley High School) and Heather Lawrence (North Cross School).

In 2010, the top three vote-getters were Dustin McCollum (Hidden Valley High School), Debbie Hill (Roanoke Valley Christian Schools) and Heather Lawrence (North Cross School.)

In 2009, the top three were Pete Lustig (Cave Spring High School),
Maggie Long (Hidden Valley High School) and Pat Carr (Cave Spring High School.)

So what will it be this year, in this and many other categories?

You tell us!

Here’s your chance to honor your favorite teacher, your favorite bus driver, your favorite school staff member — your favorite in lots of commercial and non-commercial categories.

Voting is now open in our fourth annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader survey.

You can find the voting form right here (or over in the right-hand rail.)

The voting is open through midnight on Sunday, March 11; we’ll publish the results in our April 20 print edition.

A few new wrinkles: To make it easier to vote, we’ve gone ahead and listed the top six finishers last year in the business categories — although, as always, you can cast a write-in vote if your favorite isn’t already listed.

If you’ve got someone or some thing you think should be recognized, feel free to start a campaign to drum up votes.

Is there someone or something who should be recognized who doesn’t fit into a category? We always have our “best thing not on this list.”

Happy voting!

Here’s who won in 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have Best Of contests underway in Salem, Botetourt County, and the New River Valley.