CULVER CITY, CALIF. (May 13, 2011) - Larry DeMoss, an English teacher at Edgewood High School from Ellettsville, Ind., has won third place in the first-ever "Jeopardy!" Teachers Tournament, earning a total of $25,000.

DeMoss said that he was thrilled about placing in the competition.  "I went into it with the attitude that I was coming out ahead even if I was the lowest scorer," he said.  "Anything more than $5,000 was gravy to me."

To prepare for the tournament, DeMoss reviewed Canadian provinces and their capitals.  "I knew those popped up with some frequency," he said.  He also studied subjects about film and African nations.  "Beyond those, I didn't think preparing would make much of a difference."

DeMoss never imagined he'd become a teacher when he graduated from high school.  "Besides being a factory worker, teaching was the only other career I wasn't interested in doing at that time."  After working in fast food for 18 years, DeMoss realized that working with teens was something he enjoyed.  He said, "Teaching turned out to be the perfect match for my personality. I'm glad that I had those few years to figure things out.  Otherwise, I don't think I would have been as effective in my teaching."

Regarding his performance, DeMoss thinks his students will be proud.  "They have been incredibly supportive and I think they will be suitably impressed," he said.  "Though, I expect to get some grief for not winning the whole thing," he added jokingly.

Charles Temple, an English teacher at Ocracoke School from Ocracoke, N.C., placed first in the tournament and won $100,000.  Second place winner Lori Kissell, a Latin teacher at Liberty High School from Fredericksburg, Va., took home $50,000. The two-week competition featured 15 of the nation's top K-12 teachers.

"Jeopardy!," the winner of 28 Emmy awards since its debut in 1984, was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most awards won by a TV Game Show. The series is the #1-rated quiz show in syndication with nearly 9 million daily viewers. "Jeopardy!" is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp. 

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