Heather Lee, an English as Second Language (ESL) teacher at Lawrence High School, right, laughs with her parents, Karen and Michael Johanning, at left, after Lee was recognized Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, as the Dedication to Education Award winner by the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Superintendent Rick Doll.

The Lawrence Schools Foundation on Wednesday presented a $5,000 check and the Dedication to Education award to Lawrence High School English as a second language teacher Heather Lee.

Superintendent Rick Doll, Scott Morgan, former school board member and foundation member, and other local education leaders surprised Lee with the award in the middle of one of her classes Wednesday morning. Lee’s mother, father and sister also attended the celebration.

The foundation chose Lee to receive the award, created in 2007 to reward extraordinary teachers or paraeducators in Lawrence public schools, because of her commitment to her students, Morgan said.

“We as a community can do what we can to help support education by building facilities and providing supplies,” Morgan said, “but the magic happens when you pull yourself out of bed and come in front of these bright, shining faces and treat them as individual humans that matter.”

Lawrence High sophomore Haixin Liu, whose native language is Chinese, said she thought Lee deserved the award.

“She’s pretty awesome,” Liu said. “She teaches us responsibility.”

Lee, who has taught at LHS since 2012, hosts back-to-school nights with ESL learners and their families, comes in early and stays late to tutor students, started an international club at the high school and worked with the Kansas University School of Engineering to start a science night for Hispanic students, Doll said.

“(Lee) is part of the reason the ESL scores are outstanding in the district,” Doll said.

The $5,000 check can be spent however Lee wishes. Morgan said, “there’s no strings attached,” and encouraged her to do something fun with it.

But Lee had other ideas.

“I think I’ll buy some books,” Lee said. “We could use some books at a more appropriate reading level.”