Surprise celebration for Teacher of the Year

Tampa, Florida -- A Tampa teacher received a surprise celebration from fellow teachers and students on Monday.

The occasion was to mark her winning Florida's 2010 Teacher of the Year award.

Megan Allen was chosen from more than 180,000 teachers statewide. During the school year Allen teaches at Cleveland Elementary School, but she also holds summer classes at Broward Elementary, both in Tampa.

Allen, 30, received the award in a ceremony in Orlando last week, but today was the local community's chance to congratulate her.

"I decided to follow in my mom's footsteps," Allen said at the Orlando ceremony. "I get so much joy out of being a teacher. I learn so much from my students every day."

Allen has taught five years and teaches fourth grade. She will receive $10,000, a $1,000 wardrobe and a free trip for four to New York to see this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.