BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Out of thousands of teachers and more than 40 finalists across Kern County, a pair of local educators have been selected as "Teachers of the Year."

Sloan Holmes, a health teacher from Stockdale High School and Louis Yuen, a music teacher at Sunset School, got the prestigious award.

Both have been teaching professionally for more than 15 years.

With shrinking budgets and massive layoffs across the state, the challenges teachers face are increasing.

But Holmes and Yuen say it hasn't stopped them from getting through to young minds yearning for education.

"They want to be part of it,” Holmes said, while Yuen applauded students who try their best.

Two alternates, Carrie Atkin, a preschool special ed teacher and Rick Francis, a high school English teacher, were also selected.

The California Department of Education selects the statewide teacher of the year in November.