Montville — On Aug. 30, students and staff from Mohegan Elementary School presented Ashley Ager, a special needs teacher, with a $5,000 check as a winner of the Third Annual Staples Connect #ThankATeacher Contest.

Ager was one of 20 teachers in the nation to win $5,000 in Staples Gifts Cards for their classrooms. In light of the many challenges teachers have faced throughout the pandemic, Staples US Retail awarded an additional $2,000 to Ager and all winning contestants for their personal needs.

Ager was nominated for going "above and beyond" for her students, according to a news release. She delivered food boxes to families in need, dropping off materials and projects to students and other support staff working from home during the pandemic. She checked in on her students weekly even past school hours.