Surprise, Shannon Kline of Anson Jones Elementary!

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Kline, who teaches second grade, won $10,000 this week from the National University System/Sanford Programs as part of a search for the nation’s most inspirational teachers.

The Sanford Teacher Award aims to award $10,000 to one teacher from each state, and one of them will receive the top prize of $50,000. As one of five inaugural Sanford Teacher award recipients, Kline will be considered for the national award along with the 50 teachers who will be named in November. She will also serve as ambassador of the award, raising awareness of nominations, which are open until Oct. 22.

Kline teaches social-emotional learning techniques from the Sanford Harmony program.

Billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, the award’s namesake, helped deliver Kline’s award Wednesday, along with National University System chancellor Michael R. Cunningham.