ARDMORE, Okla. -- Ardmore and Plainview teachers received a special reward on Monday. More than 50 educators were surprised to find that they were not only receiving recognition, but money as well.

It was part of the Ardmore Cornerstone Initiative from the Chamber Of Commerce.

"Teachers fill out an application, and a majority of the application has to do with student academic progress. They take their students, figure out where they're low and then they bring them along to higher levels," Philip Black, director of Cornerstone, said.

State Board of Education members chose recipients based on outstanding accomplishments in the classroom.