VON ORMY, Texas – A local teacher was honored on Tuesday with what many consider the Oscars of teaching in a surprise award presentation.
Amber Simpson had no idea that the assembly at Barrera Veterans Elementary School would become all about her.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath showed up to give her the 2016-2017 Milken Educator Award.
The prestigious award comes with an unrestricted $25,000. Simpson, who has been at the school since 2002, said she never even considered that she was getting the award.
"Never once would I have though I'd be standing here today doing this. Even as they were introducing the teacher, did it occur that it would be me. I'm looking around to see who it could be," Simpson said.
The is the first time a teacher from Somerset ISD had gotten the Milken Educator Award. Simpson is the only teacher in Texas who will get it this year.