CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Drema McNeal, a sixth-grade language arts teacher in Beckley who helped her mother learn to read, was named the West Virginia 2011 Teacher of the Year Wednesday.

State Superintendent Steve Paine was to make the announcement during a ceremony at the Embassy Suites in Charleston Wednesday night.

Marsha Smith, McNeal's principal at Park Middle School in Raleigh County, described McNeal as a creative, original and innovative teacher. She also said McNeal is an effective communicator who finds time to volunteer for causes that help children and families, according to a state Department of Education news release.

McNeal also wrote a book on autism -- "Kyle's Colorful Life" -- that won four national awards including the Mom's Choice Award Gold Medal for a children's picture book.

McNeal, who has 24 years of experience in the classroom, is also working toward her National Board Certification.   

McNeal said she realized she wanted to become a reading teacher after she discovered that her mother, who dropped out of high school, was functionally illiterate.

"I wanted to make sure I could help others learn to read the way I had helped my mom," she said in a statement. "No one should be made to feel inadequate because they cannot read well. Not being able to read is not a sign of unintelligence; it is a sign that there is an underlying problem."