A Lawrence teacher now has 5,000 more reasons to be happy for the holidays.

Jim Immel, an early-childhood teacher at East Heights Early Childhood Family Center, is the recipient of $5,000 and the new Special Award for Dedication to Education.

“I couldn’t believe how much the money was,” Immel said after being surprised Monday by Lawrence district officials, members of the school board and friends and family.

The newest award from the Lawrence Schools Foundation was created to honor those teachers who go the extra mile to help kids who need it most. The anonymous donors followed in their fathers’ footsteps – they are the sons of the men who created the Bobs’ Award, which funds the Special Award for Teaching Excellence.

“It just makes me really happy to know that people appreciate and recognize what I do. There are so many people in this district that are deserving of such awards,” Immel said.

Immel said he knew about the award because he was going to nominate someone else for it. But he had no idea when it was being awarded.

Immel has been in the Lawrence school district for 16 years. He started as a paraeducator at Quail Run Elementary School working with children with autism. For the past 11 years, he has worked as an early-childhood educator, first at Pinckney School and now at East Heights.

“Jim has a natural way with children. His gentle, responsive manner is all about children,” said Cris Anderson, East Heights’ principal. “Each year, parents and children will make a point to tell me how Mr. Immel has touched their lives.”

Said Immel: “To be recognized for something you love doing is really icing on the cake.”