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Westmoreland County teacher wins $25K prize

LOWER BURRELL, Pa. (AP) — An English teacher from Westmoreland County has won a prestigious award -- and a lot of money.

The state Education Department announced Tuesday that Meghan Nese, of Burrell High School, is the 2013 winner of the Milken Educator Award. The award comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.

Acting state Education Secretary Carolyn Dumaresq and Jane Foley of the Milken Educator Awards presented the award at a surprise assembly at the high school.

Nese, who has been teaching for 16 years, chairs the school's English Department. She also tutors students after school and serves as a mentor to non-tenured teachers. Colleagues described her as a bright, articulate and industrious educator.

Nese is the 52nd Pennsylvania educator to be honored by the Milken Family Foundation.