LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Karen Heresa, a special education teacher at Wilcox Elementary School, yesterday was named one of 75 recipients nationwide of a 2008 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. She is Hawai'i's only recipient this year.

Heresa, 35, began teaching at Wilcox Elementary School in 1995 as her first job out of college in New York state, with the intention of staying a couple of years.

Instead, she was captivated by 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 is a co-creator of the school's Hawaiian values character education program and is a key organizer of annual multi-school track meets.

The character education program includes guidance lessons, daily messages and monthly awards assemblies centered on Hawaiian values such as 'ohana (family), kuleana (responsibility) and pono (doing what's right).

"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."

Fellow special education teacher Aimee Ida said, "I feel honored just to have her. She's an excellent teacher. She's very positive and very creative. She's willing to do anything to support the children at the school."

The 75 national Milken Award recipients get $25,000 in cash to use as 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'll spend the money, but that education for her son and stepsons would be a likely choice.

A New York native, Heresa earned a bachelor's degree in education from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

Since 1990, 67 Hawai'i educators have received Milken Awards totaling $1.7 million.

The Milken Educator Awards' mission is to strengthen the education profession by celebrating and rewarding outstanding educators for their achievements, expanding their opportunities for professional growth, and uniting them in a nationwide network aimed at reforming education through action.

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

"Mrs. Heresa is more than just an enthusiastic teacher at Wilcox Elementary School. She is also an inspirational leader who has her students believing in what they do inside and out of the classroom," Hirono said. "Looking back to March of last year, when she helped rebuild Wilcox Elementary School following a devastating fire, Mrs. Heresa exhibited an unquestioned love for her students, love for her school, and love for her community."