Kindergarten Teacher Receives Teacher of the Week Award

A kindergarten class at Discovery Elementary School got a sweet surprise Thursday morning. 

One of Star 101.5's show hosts, Curt Kruse, and his team paid a special visit to the classroom to present the Teacher of the Week award to Donna Smith. 

Kruse presented her with a $100 check from City University of Seattle and a personalized plaque from Issaquah Trophies.

"I'm incredibly surprised," Smith said. "It's pretty exciting."

Melissa Lichau, whose son, Devin, is a student in the class, said she nominated Smith for the contest.

"Each morning, kids from kindergarten to all the way to fifth grade give her hugs and honor her everyday," Melissa Lichau said. 

She said when Devin started going to school for the first time this year, it wasn't his favorite place in the world.

"Mrs. Smith has changed his life," she said. "He's become a kid who was afraid of school to a child who loves school."

Smith's students also scored goody bags filled with T-shirts and snacks from , City University of Seattle,  KOMO 4, KOMO Communities and Star 101.5.

To top off her special day, Smith will be one of the 24 local teachers in the running to win an all new redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Jetta from. 

The radio station will name the lucky winner on Friday, June 10 at Fisher Plaza in Seattle.