An emotional moment: Winton Elementary School first-grade teacher Erin Lenz reacts as she is announced as the 2012 Idaho Teacher of the Year while fellow teacher Ann Porter-Brown looks on. The announcement was made by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna at the school in Coeur d’Alene on Thursday. Lenz, who has taught for 10 years, will receive $1,000 from the state Department of Education, $16,000 in technology from the SMARTer Kids Foundation, and a trip to Washington D.C. to represent Idaho as a nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Other recent winners from Coeur d’Alene School District include Mike Clabby of Lake City High School in 2007 and Paula Conley of Canfield Middle School in 2005.
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