Glenwood Elementary School teacher Jena Bolt was named Thursday as Enid Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

“What a surprise,” she said. “What a surprise. Thank you all so much.”

Bolt said she wanted to thank everyone who taught her everything she knows about teaching.

The announcement was made during Enid Education Association’s annual recognition and retirement banquet.

EEA president Sherrie Hendrie addressed the crowd and said for a person to be selected as teacher of the year for a specific school building is a great honor, but for a teacher to be selected as district teacher of the year puts him or her among the finest teachers in the state.

EPS 2008 Teacher of the Year Matt Holtzen, an instructor at Enid High School, introduced the 2009 Teacher of the Year.

“It is humbling and a great honor to be representing not only Enid High School but Enid Public Schools,” Holtzen said.

All teacher of the year candidates stood before the crowd as Holtzen made his announcement.

Holtzen said Bolt had stated in a portfolio all students should be challenged to their maximum potential and curriculum should grow and change based on each student’s abilities and curiosity.

“This year’s 2009 Teacher of the Year is ... in for exciting an year,” he said, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

Other EPS Teacher of the Year candidates were Marva Garber, Sheila Johnson, Robin Eckert, Michelle Gilliam, Judy Manjarrez, Kay Henderson, Kathy Haworth, Marla Fuxa, Linda Reames, Lisa Brum-field, Katie Sanderson, Craig Liddell, Gary Kirtley and Pam Gilbreath.

Also during the banquet EEA presented several other awards, included a student scholarship.

“The scholarship committee has chosen someone who has been through numerous challenges his senior year and in life,” said EEA member Rick Moulton.

Enid High senior Brett Kenaga was named the recipient of the EEA scholarship.

“I’m so grateful for this,” he said. “I don’t know why I’m deserving of this, but I just want to thank you all and God bless.”

Also receiving awards were Ron and Susan Bartlett, Special Recognition Award; Ann Bryant, Friend of Education Award; and Cummins Con-struction, Partner in Education Award.

EEA also recognized Enid’s retiring teachers. Enid Public Schools will lose 13 teachers to retirement at the end of this school year.

EPS retiring teachers are: Allison Aholt, Kathy Haworth, Marsha Billings, Suzanne Johnson, Nancy Phillips, Da-vid Brown, Pamela Koehn, Carolyn Stokes, Loretta Fauchier, Ruth Ann Ligenfelter, Janet Wright, Marlene Gelsthorpe and Iris McGrew.