Teacher “In Complete Shock” When Her Name’s Called In Front Of The Whole School.

A kindergarten teacher won a $2,500 getaway as a “thank you” from the Virginia Lottery.

Blaire Flowers teaches at Garden City Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia. She was one of 68,000 K-12 educators to receive a note of gratitude through the “Thank a Teacher” campaign during Teacher Appreciation Week. According to WSET, each note included a code that they could use to enter a special contest and win a prize.

At the beginning of the month, Virginia Lottery Executive Director Kelly Gee surprised Blaire and her students at school. Not only did the teacher win a Virginia-themed vacation, but she also received a $250 gift card. Additionally, Garden City Elementary School won a substantial prize: $2,500 worth of supplies!

“Public school teachers are the heart of our education system,” Kelly told WSLS. “They are mentors, they are leaders, and at Virginia Lottery we find any and every opportunity to celebrate them throughout the year.”

While students and teachers cheered, Blaire accepted her prizes.

“I was in complete shock, it definitely was the last thing I was expecting,” she said. “We are working so, so hard and we are constantly giving everything we have. The fact that somebody wants to give back to us is huge.”

According to the National Education Association in 2022, over 90% of teachers pay for school supplies out of pocket. This includes paper, notebooks, pencils, and even soap. One Michigan educator reported spending hundreds of dollars trying to supplement the school’s library. Before the pandemic, the average teacher spent at least $500 furnishing their classrooms with supplies.

WSET tells us that the Virginia Lottery has been doing their part for years to recognize hard-working teachers and support public education. Their proceeds account for 10% of the state’s K-12 budget. This includes additional programs such as School Breakfast and Early Reading Intervention.

Watch the video below to see the heartwarming moment Blaire Flowers found out about her prize. Don’t forget to share!

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.