Hampton teacher’s thank you note turns into $2,500 surprise prize

A middle school math teacher was selected from thousands of Virginia educators after receiving a special code through the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher campaign

HAMPTON, Va. — What started as a simple thank you note ended with a surprise celebration and a cash prize for a Hampton middle school teacher after he was selected as a grand prize winner in the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher campaign.

Parker Kiser, a math teacher at Cesar Tarrant Middle School in Hampton, was randomly selected to receive a $2,500 cash prize through the annual program.

In addition to Kiser’s award, Cesar Tarrant Middle School will receive a $2,500 credit for school supplies from program partner The Supply Room.

The Virginia Lottery said Kiser’s entry was chosen from thousands submitted by teachers across the Commonwealth who entered a prize drawing using a unique code included on Thank a Teacher notes.