René Herrick, a fourth-grader teacher at Combs Elementary School in Raleigh, was named Wake County’s 2009 Teacher of the Year on Thursday.

Herrick, a teacher for five years, was praised for her active involvement in the lives of her students. She tutors students after-school.With her husband, who is also a teacher, she takes students on outings to movies and restaurants.

Her supporters stressed how much Herrick cares about her students.