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There are no Nobel Prizes or gold medals for education, but on Friday a Tulip Grove Elementary School teacher received the recognition of a lifetime for her excellence in teaching with a $25,000 award from a national education foundation.

Fourth-grade teacher Shannon Landefeld was surprised with the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award at a school assembly before members of the state and county school boards, fellow teachers, parents, county and city officials and, of course, students. She was one of two teachers in Maryland to receive the prestigious award, meant to reward mid-career teachers for their talent, hard work and leadership, said Jane Foley, senior vice president of the awards program.

Foley said the foundation selected Landefeld for the award because of her innovative teaching practices, dedication to learning and for helping her students achieve at a high level. Last year, third- and fifth-grade classes at Tulip Grove achieved 100 percent proficiency on the Maryland School Assessment tests.

"This is really about success building on success," said Principal Brian Baudoin. "All of our teachers here at Tulip Grove are stars, and Shannon Landefeld shines brightly amongst them."

Landefeld, 31, of Crofton has taught at Tulip Grove for seven years, and up until this school year taught first grade. She made the switch to fourth grade mid-school year without missing a step, said her peers.

"We needed a fourth-grade teacher, and she switched seamlessly," said third-grade teacher Marylouise Lopez. "She was able to connect with the kids, and she knows the curriculum like the back of her hand."

Maryland Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick said she was impressed with the way Landefeld has managed to incorporate technology, art, music and writing into her classroom to play off of her students' strengths.

Landefeld also impressed the foundation with her dedication to her own education. She earned her master's degree in reading education from Bowie State University and is currently working on a certificate in administration. Landefeld said she wanted to make the transition to the intermediate grade level to make use of her reading education expertise and would eventually like to write curriculum for the school district, where her mother, Barbara Landefeld, works as a regional instructional specialist. Currently, Shannon Landefeld writes curriculum for science education in the county over the summers.

"She is driven to excel and driven to perfection," Baudoin said.

Parent Teacher Association President Carmie Naleski said Landefeld's receipt of the award makes her especially proud of the school.

"It just overall shows the scope of what the school is capable of," she said.

Landefeld will receive the actual $25,000 award at a Milken conference in Los Angeles in April and will be able to use the money for anything she wants. Still in shock at the news of winning the award, Landefeld said she had no idea what she would put the money toward.

E-mail Andrea Noble at anoble@gazette.net.