TURNER — Lynelle Morin Towers, a second-grade teacher at Turner Primary School, has won the Patience W. Norman Prize for Teacher Excellence, according to a news release from the school district.

Towers has taught for 21 years. She was recently given the award by RSU 52 Superintendent Henry Aliberti during a surprise assembly attended by more than 200 students, teachers and parents.

The award was named for Patience Norman, a history teacher who required her students to work hard. The award recipient receives $5,000.

The Norman Prize for Teacher Excellence is given annually to one teacher in the Greene-Leeds-Turner district. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment and a minimum of five years of teaching.