Teacher of year for Idaho honored

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – Busy with his class of fourth-graders, Stalker Elementary School teacher Chris Wilmes didn’t stop long to wonder why the state schools superintendent attended his school’s patriot assembly.

Tuesday, Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard did something Wilmes hadn’t imagined – she announced he had been chosen as the 2006 Milken educator for the state of Idaho. The award comes with $25,000 cash.

“I had absolutely no idea why she was here,” Wilmes said. “I really didn’t expect anything of this nature. I’m a little taken aback.”