The first five teachers honored with a "Teacher Who Inspires" award recently at surprise ceremonies reacted with shock.

Kris Eaton, who teaches pre-K and kindergarten at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, was downright stunned.

"Wow," she repeatedly said in sign language as she took the stage of the James A. Little Theater on the school's campus Thursday evening to accept her award — a $1,000 check and a crystal, star-shaped paperweight.

The announcement came at the tail end of the Santa Fe school's Honors Ceremony.

"I've read about the award but I never applied it to myself," Eaton said after the event was over. "I focus so much on my students that I forget about myself."

Though Eaton comes from a hearing family in Los Alamos, she started studying sign language at Gallaudet University — which offers education and career development for deaf and hard-of-hearing students — in Washington, D.C.

She's taught at the School for the Deaf for four years. "I love coming to my job," she said. "I get to come play and learn with my kids every day."

Her students seem to love it, too. Several surrounded her after the ceremony. One of them — 5-year-old kindergartner Adrien Ercolino — via an interpreter offered several reasons why he likes Eaton:

• She's tall (5'11", to be exact).

• She teaches about dinosaurs.

• She teaches about flowers, plants and the Santa Fe Farmers Market.

The award, created in 1992 and funded by an anonymous donor, is sponsored by Partners in Education, a local nonprofit that supports teachers and builds relationships between the community and the school district.

It honors teachers who demonstrate exceptional leadership and partnership capabilities. Honorees are nominated by their peers, usually teachers in the same school.

Eaton's nomination letter said she provides "a fun and learning atmosphere where (students) not only grow and develop as life-long learners, but come to school excited and ready to learn... she desires to see each student flourish, even those who are not in her class."

The other five teachers who received the honor this year are Christine Birée of Atalaya Elementary School, Judy Tyson of Agua Fría Elementary School, Tony Schillaci of Santa Fe High School, and both Roni Rohr and Megan Varela of El Dorado Community School.

The School for the Deaf holds its commencement ceremony for 11 graduates at 10 a.m. today in the James. A. Little Theater, with Lt. Governor John Sanchez as guest speaker.

Contact Robert Nott at 986-3021 or rnott@sfnewmexican.com