A longtime Lawrence High School teacher was the recipient of a Mayor’s Excellence in Education Award on April 3.

Ron Lang, an English teacher at LHS, was surprised by then-Lawrence Mayor Mike Amyx, who entered his classroom with city officials and school administrators. Lang has been an educator for the past 37 years and is retiring after this school year.

The annual award honors Lawrence educators who demonstrate excellence in education, leadership and community involvement.

Lang said he was “overjoyed” by the award.

On April 2, Amyx presented Excellence in Education Awards to Judith Galas, an English and journalism teacher at Bishop Seabury Academy, and Pam Shanks, a preschool teacher and special education coordinator at Raintree Montessori School.