A seemingly routine school-wide assembly turned into the surprise of a lifetime for Champlain Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade teacher Matthew Hajdun yesterday.

This year's Vermont Teacher of the Year is a lively 31-year-old named Tong Chen. She teaches Chinese at Townshend's Leland & Gray Union Middle and High Schools. Chen says the honor also reflects a small community's openness to a wider world.

Tong Chen was honored today as Vermont's 2012 teacher of the year. Chen has taught Chinese language and culture at Leland & Gray for more than six years and is the only authorized advanced placement Chinese teacher in the state.