Earlier this week, the marquee outside Bismarck High School read, "We have the best teachers here."

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce must have agreed. It awarded English teacher Kathy Lord Olson with its secondary teacher of the year award Thursday morning.

The chamber awards three teachers for outstanding teaching each year with the teacher of the year award. It recognizes a teacher from each level: elementary, secondary and higher education. Usually, a ruse is devised to surprise the recipient with the award.

"My principal asked me to do a presentation at the morning staff meeting on Kaplan," Lord Olson said. "I was prepared for that. As Igot to the meeting area, I turned the corner and saw my family sitting with the staff. I knew there was only one reason they could be there."

She was nominated for the award. Nominees are judged on student contact, professional contributions, achievements and community involvement.

Lord Olson was selected because of her work with setting up the Bismarck High School Scholarship Fund, and the time she took to keep a student from dropping out of school. The scholarship fund was started in 1996, and each year, five students are given a scholarship.

She helped the student by getting him extra help with reading and writing, and getting him into a summer writing program. Consequently, his writing improved and the boy stayed in school.

Lord Olson has taught for 15 years at Bismarck High School. She graduated from Century High School and the University of Mary.

She was given a plaque and a gift basket at the presentation Thursday morning. The chamber will give out two more awards at a later date.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)