By Timothy Churchill,Staff Writer

BETHEL – Mary Merrill of West Bethel was recently honored as Crescent Park Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year by the Oxford Wal-Mart.

“Total shock” is how she described her reaction to the news. She learned about the award when an afternoon kindergarten class was interrupted by a few staff members and parents of two of Merrill’s current and former students.

Merrill has taught at Crescent Park for seven years, the last five in kindergarten.

Alyssa Bouchard and Tammy Gordon, Oxford Wal-Mart employees, recommended Merrill, and both were on hand for the small celebration.

Gordon’s son, Lucas, is a former student of Merrill’s. Bouchard’s daughter Skylar is presently in one of Merrill’s classes.

“I asked my son who he wanted to nominate,” said Gordon, and Lucas “quickly answered Mrs. Merrill.'”

In Lucas’ first year of school, Merrill “made him feel very comfortable, very special,” Gordon said. “She’s compassionate.”

Bouchard said she wanted Skylar, a special needs student, to wait a year before starting kindergarten, but a delay would have made her ineligible for certain educational services. Bouchard remembers being nervous about her daughter starting so early, “but on the first day (Merrill) made me feel very comfortable.” Bouchard said she and Merrill have “good communication” about Skylar, and that Merrill “treats Skylar like her own daughter, she loves her to death.”

School Principal Judy Whitman called Merrill a “consummate educator” who is “filled with enthusiasm and quick to understand what a child needs.”

Merrill deserved the award, Whitman said, because “she takes on a lot more than the ordinary person would.”

Merrill received a blue Wal-Mart vest with the words “Teacher of the Year 2005” embroidered on it, a $50 gift certificate and a $1,000 check made out to Crescent Park Elementary School. She gets to decide how the money is spent, and she said she would “probably share it among the kindergartners” for “much needed things” like books and various supplies and software.

“It’s great to add new and exciting things for the kids,” Merrill said.

About the honor, Merrill said, “It’s really nice to know you’ve made an impact on a child’s life, academically and socially.”

A bigger windfall for Crescent Park could be on its way. Merrill has begun the process of writing essays in the statewide competition among the other Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart winners in Maine. If she wins – she’ll know this fall – Crescent Park will be awarded $10,000, and Merrill will advance to the national level and the opportunity to win an additional $25,000.