A Mount Airy teacher is the recipient of a national award for bringing innovation into her classroom. The award includes a $25,000 prize.

Fourth-grade teacher Amanda Robertson is this year’s North Carolina recipient of the Milken Educator Award, one of 35 teachers around the country recognized for excellence in education.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports Robertson is in her ninth year of teaching, and fourth year at Jones Intermediate School.

One of Robertson’s innovations was moving her students away from traditional homework assignments, and instead sending them home with instructional videos that she produced. This allowed for more work getting done during classroom hours.

Robertson was surprised to learn of the award when a school assembly recognizing teacher accomplishments turned out to be a celebration honoring her.

Robertson is also in the running for the state’s Teacher Of The Year award.