CHARLESTON, W.Va., March 24, 2011-- The Arch Coal Foundation has recognized 11 outstanding West Virginia teachers with Golden Apple certificates, according to John R. Snider, Arch Coal vice president, external affairs, eastern region.

"These 11 Golden Apple recipients received high marks from those judging applications for the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards, the Arch Coal Foundation's highest honor," said Snider. "We certainly hope these excellent educators are nominated again for the 2012 program."

The 2011 Golden Apple recipients are:

Recipients of achievement awards were announced March 8. Their names are posted on the Arch Coal Web site: www.archcoal.com.

The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards Program is the oldest, privately sponsored teacher recognition program in the state. "We are proud to honor some of West Virginia's top educators in this way and pleased that hundreds of teachers statewide continue to be nominated for the award each year," Snider added. "West Virginia boasts a large number of excellent teachers in all areas of primary and secondary education."

The teacher recognition awards are underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation and supported in program-promotion by the West Virginia Department of Education, the WVEA and the West Virginia Library Commission.

Arch Coal, Inc. is one of the world's largest and most efficient coal producers, with more than 160 million tons sold in 2010. Arch supplies cleaner-burning, low-sulfur coal to customers on four continents through its national network of mines. In West Virginia, Arch subsidiaries operate the Mountain Laurel and Coal-Mac complexes. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.