Greer Carter was surprised on Jan. 12 as this month’s winner of Terrific Teacher Tuesday. The first-grade teacher at Highland Renaissance Academy received the news from WBAV FM radio personality Preston Miles who popped in her classroom.

“I’m really appreciative of this and it is so nice to see the excitement on my students’ faces,” she said. “This is validation for what I do because teaching is something that I really, really love.”

The Terrific Teacher Tuesday contest is sponsored by WBAV 101.9 FM and local businesses, and recognizes teachers who go above and beyond in the classroom. Carter has been teaching for four years. She switched careers after years of working as an office manager.

“Teaching is my calling,” she said. “I was meant to do this.”

Carter has created several programs at Highland Renaissance to inspire her students to succeed. She holds the Breakfast at Tiffany’s program once a month to invite students to have breakfast with her, she helps tutor students in the first-grade class who need additional help, and she also takes students bowling for rewarding them for good grades and behavior.

“Ms. Carter is the essence of creativity,” said Valerie Todd, principal of Highland Renaissance Academy. “She consistently thinks outside the box in order to engage and motivate all of her students at the highest levels.”

Carter received the following prizes as this month’s winner: cookie bouquet from Cookies By Design, computer provided by State Farm, digital camera provided by Tempo Entertainment Venue and a $45 gift card to Outback Steakhouse. Her students also received the following prizes: pizza from Papa John’s, drinks from Coca-Cola, gift bag with school supplies from State Farm and a coupon for a complimentary kid's meal at Outback Steakhouse.

The winner is selected each month from an online contest held on the radio station’s Web site. The teacher who collects the most votes each month is selected the winner. Each monthly winner will also get to compete for a grand prize at the end of the school year. More information can be found at www.v1019.com.