ORANGE — Ralph C. Mahar Regional School teacher Angela Cote has been named a 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award winner.

Cote, 54, has been teaching at Mahar for seven years this time around, having taught physics for four years during a previous stint. She is now a technology and engineering teacher.

“Ms. Cote is well respected among her colleagues and students, and brings innovation to the forefront of students’ education. One of Ms. Cote’s students recently described her as ‘making learning fun and understandable,’” the school said in a statement. “We are proud to have Ms. Cote as a member of our faculty.”

Cote said she found out she won the award when Superintendent Tari Thomas and Mahar Principal Scott Hemlin let themselves into her classroom at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 28 with a flower bouquet.