Rebecca Snyder teaches poetry by asking her students to find song lyrics that touch them emotionally. She introduces the big ideas of the enlightenment and romantic literature by showing paintings to her students.

It's those innovating teaching strategies -- combined with total dedication to her students at Greater Latrobe Senior High School -- that propelled the state to choose Mrs. Snyder as its 2009 Teacher of the Year.

"Rebecca Snyder is inspiring her students with her enthusiasm and her creative methods for instilling students with a love of language, literature and the arts," Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak said yesterday.

Mrs. Snyder, 34, is the third teacher in a row from Western Pennsylvania to win the award, following David Woten Jr. at Carson Middle School in the North Allegheny School District and Lois Rebich at Ross Elementary School in the North Hills School District.

In her classes, which include Academic English III, Advanced Placement English Literature and Film Media, Mrs. Snyder incorporates artwork, performance and music into her lesson plans. A classical pianist and singer, she also directs the school musicals.

"The arts are a great way to motivate students who might need something different," she said. "Sometimes, that piece of music is just the thing."

Mrs. Snyder was one of seven children raised in Kingsley, Susquehanna County. Her father encouraged her to become a doctor or a lawyer. But by the end of her freshman year at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, she had switched her major from pre-med to English.

This is her 11th year teaching at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. She has an 8-year-old son, Billy, and is married to William Snyder, an English professor at St. Vincent College.

In the classroom, Mrs. Snyder stresses the importance of taking risks with her lessons and translating her excitement to her students.

"I just try to bring my enthusiasm into the classroom every day," she said. "If they see me excited to be there, that has to translate to them. If I really feel that what I'm doing is important, they're going to bring that same attitude to the table."