A media arts teacher from Lanier High School in North Austin is among three finalists competing for the title of 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year at the secondary level.

Tara Bordeaux said her passion for teaching is rooted in her mission to instill confidence in her students, something she said she lacked as a teenager. A former high school dropout, Bordeaux spent 10 years working in TV and film production before joining Austin ISD as a teacher in 2013.

"My hope is that as a teacher, I can inspire my students to persevere and succeed in ways I never could," she said in a statement, adding: "I believe that every student deserves the opportunity to learn from teachers who truly care about the impact they are making in a child’s life."

The Texas Teacher of the Year Award is given by the Texas Association of School Administrators to the educator who shows "true dedication to their students," Executive Director of the Association Johnny L. Veselka said. Bordeaux was selected from a group of 40 regional teachers of the year to compete for the award alongside two other secondary level Texas educators.

Following interviews with a panel of judges, both an elementary and secondary teacher will be chosen as the state level winners and will go on to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year program. The state level winners will be announced Sept. 15 in an awards ceremony at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.