LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL Names 2015's Top Teacher

Today on "LIVE with Kelly and Michael," hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan revealed that DONN HARRISON from Cameron, Missouri was chosen as the winner of this year's "Top Teacher Search."

Harrison teaches kindergarten at Parkview Elementary in Cameron, Missouri. He was selected as one of "LIVE's" 12 semi-finalists last month and went on to be named one of four finalists who traveled to New York City this week to appear on "LIVE." Ripa and Strahan shared Harrison's story on Wednesday, May 6. After the hosts honored each of the Top Teacher finalists from May 4-7, they turned it over to the viewers to vote for their favorite. Voting began on Thursday, May 7 at 10am (EST) and ended on Friday, May 8 at 8am (EST). All four of the nominees returned to "LIVE" this morning for the results, and it was announced on-air that Harrison was the 2015 Top Teacher. Harrison received a brand-new Ford Edge and a $20,000 check from "LIVE's" partnership with Coca-Cola Life.

Harrison is considered the "voice" of his tiny Midwestern town. He not only is a beloved teacher of 21 years but also is a valued member of his community who fights fires. After witnessing a student fall, Harrison became an EMT so he could be better equipped to handle emergency situations, and currently works summers and weekends on the ambulance. He founded DECA, which fosters leadership skills by teaming students with people in business, has created reading lessons that have been used by other districts and is always the first one to lend a helping hand in school. Plus, every morning, rain or shine, he can be found greeting families as Parkview Elementary's crossing guard.

During "Top Teacher Week," Ripa and Strahan surprised each of the finalists with a variety of gifts as a token of appreciation for the difference they have made in the lives of their students and communities. Gifts for the schools included 30 Intel-powered Dell Venue 7000 tablets, 15 Intel-powered Lenovo HORIZON 2s Portable All-in-One PCs, a complete set of personalized learning software from Compass Learning along with a set of computers, and for Parkview Elementary, 30 Intel-powered Asus T100 Chi devices. Each of the teachers received a special "thank you" gift, ranging from vacations to top-of-the-line Frigidaire Professional Appliances. In addition to the grand prize, Harrison was awarded a seven-day family vacation to the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort in Curacao in the Caribbean.

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