OMAHA — An Omaha elementary school teacher has been honored with the American Star Teacher for 2008 for the state of Nebraska.

Kelly Carver learned of the honor in her Mockingbird Elementary fourth-grade classroom this week.

The award was supposed to be a surprise, but Carver says she knew something was up when she was told by school officials not to wear pajamas for a planned classroom pajama party.

More than 5,000 teachers were nominated for the award, but only one winner is chosen from each state. Carver has been teaching since 2001, and used to work for the state Department of Social Services.