South Coast students said a Dartmouth Middle School teacher was their favorite teacher in this year's Barnes & Noble Dartmouth contest.

Students submitted essays, poems, and thank you letters to nominate their favorite teachers, share their appreciation, and explain how teachers have influenced them. Seventh grade English teacher Paul Leconte won first place regionally in the 2017 My Favorite Teacher Contest.

Katherine Quinn nominated Leconte with a poem illuminating many of Leconte's qualities, including how Leconte understands young people and teaches more than lessons from books.

“Like water and sun for a tree he helped me grow from the start, and not just the mind also the heart,” Quinn wrote. Judges deemed her rhymes clever, persuasive, and beautifully written.

The contest ran from January 4 through March 1.

The second place winner was Dartmouth Middle School's ELA teacher, Susan Tullson. Tullson was nominated by Kaitlin Silva. Third place winner was Anna Zimmerman, from the All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford.

Teachers Lauren Aubertine and Jennifer Carreiro from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Tech High School won honorable mentions.

The teachers will be honored at a ceremony on April 1 at 3 p.m. at the Dartmouth store, located at 392 State Road.

Leconte will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK® by Samsung, and will be eligible for $5,000 and the national “Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher of the Year” title. The student who writes the national winning essay, poem, or thank-you letter will win a $500 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and a NOOK by Samsung device.