LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Special education teacher Karen Heresa was named today as this year's only Hawai'i winner of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, which comes with an award of $25,000.

Heresa began teaching at Kaua'i's Wilcox Elementary School in 1995 as her first job out of college, with the intention of staying a couple of years.

But she fell in love with the Garden Island, loved her job, met and married her husband, Victor, and decided to stay, she said after a surprise outdoor ceremony at the school.

"It's very much a surprise to me. I didn't know this was happening," Heresa told a cheering assembly of the school's 900 students. She attributed any success she's had "to all the teachers and administrators who've supported me in my 14 years at Wilcox School."

In addition to teaching special education students in the third, fourth and fifth grades, Heresa was a co-creator of the school's Hawaiian values character education program and is a key organizer of annual multi-school track meets.

"Karen is so humble," said Rachel Watarai, who nominated Heresa for the award before retiring as Wilcox principal last year. "She's done many things behind the scenes and parents of her students have always had positive comments. A special education teacher is a special kind of teacher, who has to work with parents, teachers and children. The kids she helps you can really see it."

The 75 national Milken Award recipients get $25,000 in cash to use in any way they wish, as well as a paid trip to Los Angeles next spring to participate in an educators conference.

Heresa said she wasn't sure how she'd spend the money, but that education for her son and step-sons would be a likely choice.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D- Neighbor Islands and rural O'ahu, and Daniel Hamada, assistant superintendent of the Hawai'i Department of Education, presented the award.