Galloway Township School Teacher Terry Dougherty Wins $10,000 Grant

third-grade teacher Terry Dougherty has won the Great American Teach-Off and the $10,000 grant that comes along with it.

Dougherty was surprised by the announcement and the check at the school's Veterans Day assembly Wednesday morning, Nov. 9.

"In recognition of your accomplishments and dedication to your community, President and Mrs. Obama plan to extend an invitation for you to attend a special tour of the White House at Christmas time," representatives of GOOD added.

"I am totally shocked," said. "I received an email this morning telling me I wouldn't know until 8 o'clock tonight and I was not happy. Then I came here and I was blown away."

She received the email from GOOD Magazine, who, along with the University of Phoenix, sponsored the event. This was the first time the contest was held.

Dougherty outlasted nine other teachers involved in the contest. She was nominated due to her work with children who have military parents and are constantly moving from place to place as their parents are being transferred.

The contest consisted of five questions, with each teacher posting a video response each week throughout October. The public was then able to vote on their favorites, and each week, the two teachers with the least amount of votes were eliminated.

The final vote tally was on Monday, Nov. 7.

"We knew we wanted to surprise whoever won," said Kim Pieper of Digital Brnq, who was in constant contact with the teachers throughout the contest, and sent Dougherty the email Wednesday morning telling her the announcement would be made that night. "We knew on Monday that Terry had won and we got in contact with (Principal Robin) Moore."

GOOD initially wanted to present the award Wednesday afternoon, but the school already had its Veterans Day assembly scheduled for Wednesday morning, creating the perfect opportunity to surprise Dougherty.

"We had planned to present a check to the Stephen Siller Foundation," said Moore, whose school raised $1,926 for the foundation in its annual Make A Difference Day last month. "We also wanted to surprise Mrs. Dougherty with the Seven Seals Award. We already were having an assembly, so we didn't have to set up a bogus assembly."

The Seven Seals Award would've been enough for Dougherty, and she didn't want it to be overshadowed by the presentation of the grant. The award is presented by the National Guard and the Reserve, and is the highest state award that can be bestowed upon an individual.

"To receive the Seven Seals Award is such an honor," Dougherty said.

Galloway Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto was one of the few people who knew the presentation would happen Wednesday morning.

"Something like this is good for all educators," Giaquinto said. "This gives people the chance to get to see what educators do every day."

"I think all the finalists were high quality candidates," GOOD Magazine Education Editor Liz Dwyer said. "Terry exemplified the excellence we were looking for, as well as the community involvement."

Dougherty's cause is close to Dwyer's heart.

"I have vets in my family," Dwyer said. "It's a special community and it doesn't always receive the attention it deserves."

Dwyer's comments voiced the intent Dougherty had when she started working with military children.

"My goal was to let the community know that these kids are here," Dougherty said. "They sacrifice a lot."

Dougherty is going to put the money from the grant in the bank, and then sit down with the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, which has stated previously that she can use their facilities to tutor children.

"I'll have to sit down with them and see what I'll need, and how I can use the money to my advantage," Dougherty said. " ... I am shocked. I don't know what to say. I saw a need in the community and it's just escalated to something I never anticipated.

"And then I found out I'm going to get to go to the White House, and I was like, 'How big is this thing? The Obamas are involved?'"

Dougherty was first presented with the Seven Seals award. After a speech by Giaquinto, Dougherty began to walk away. That's when representatives from GOOD walked in with balloons and a grant. The students in the cafeteria in which the assembly was being held began to scream, and Dougherty put her face in her hands and was visibly emotional as she accepted her prize.

The announcement came three days after a Roland Rogers student was killed in an automobile accident on Sunday night. Marcus Daley, 11, was playing outside with friends when he wandered into Collins Road and was struck by a car. He was pronounced dead later that night.

"We started the week saddened by the passing of Marcus, and this does not overshadow the sadness of his family, but it does help the school focus on some of the positive things that are happening," said Galloway Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto, who added that Roland Rogers and Reeds Road Elementary School have begun fundraising to help Daley's family.

The schools will be making donations through TD Bank in Galloway.

"I think this lifted a lot of spirits," Moore said. "We started the week in a somber mood. ... This is a good way to end the week. He would've been right here cheering away."

Editor's Note: Six videos are attached to this story, including all five videos Dougherty created for the contest and a video from Wednesday morning's ceremony, which includes the presentations of the Seven Seals Award and the grant, and a speech given by Dougherty.