Chamber of Commerce education chair Janet Holliday-Cashwell understands the value of recognizing a teacher's work.

For 11 years, Holliday-Cashwell taught English at public schools in eastern North Carolina and for six years at East Carolina University.

"I know what it meant to me when somebody recognized what you were doing with students," said Holliday-Cashwell, who now is the director of human resources, employee health and employee services at Duke-Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh. "I can see it from that angle too."

That's why Holliday-Cashwell enthusiastically heads up a program of the Knightdale Chamber called the Teacher Excellence Award.

Each month a Knightdale teacher is honored by the chamber for his or her work in the school system.

"I know what it means to be recognized outside of the school arena," she said. "Unless you are a parent involved with PTOs or an educator, many times people don't realize the challenges teachers face everyday."

The chamber's board of directors brought the program back to life recently after it had become inactive for a while, Holliday-Cashwell said.

The teachers are presented a plaque and a $100 gift card at a chamber Business after Hours event. The awards are sponsored by the hosting businesses and the chamber.

The event also is a way for area business leaders to get involved in education, said Jennifer Bryan, the chamber's executive director.

"We want our business people to meet our educators and to get to know them," said Bryan. "It's a way to honor them as well."

Bryan said teachers at all eight Knightdale schools from elementary to high school are recognized. Each month a teacher from each school is singled out. Principals at the school make the selection.

"We just feel that it is very important to honor our teachers because they do so much for our citizens and our young people," said Bryan. "It's just a small way that we can honor the teachers for their love and dedication."