Wilson is Teacher of the Year

WANTAGE - Linda Wilson, a first-grade teacher at the Clifton E. Lawrence School in Wantage, was the winner of this year's Franklin Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Award. Each year Wal-Mart has forms available at the customer service desk for those who want to nominate a teacher from the area schools. A panel of judges from the retailer chooses a winner based on the tributes in the nomination form. "We chose Linda because of a very sweet nomination by Brittany Yarasz, a first grader in her class, who with the help of her mother Iris explained how her teacher makes learning fun and goes above and beyond her duty to help all of her students," said Marie Pallotta, Wal-Mart's community involvement coordinator. Wilson, who lives in Wantage, has been teaching first and second graders for 17 years and was thrilled to win the award. "It's very touching when you receive a nomination like this from one of your students," said Wilson. The award also came with a check for $1,000, which will be spent on the school. "We are not sure yet what we will spend the money on, but perhaps something that the whole school can benefit from like a digital camera and a printer to go along with it," she said.