Big surprise for teacher Becky Zelesnikar

They spend thousands of dollars of their own money every year, but Tuesday that changed for one thousand teachers across the country. That included some Rochester teachers who got quite the surprise.

It was a big surprise for teacher Becky Zelesnikar.

"You have been nominated for Longridge as the most deserving teacher for her outstanding performance in and out of the classroom."

The fourth grade teacher at Longridge Elementary School in Greece was one of one thousand teachers honored Tuesday across the country.

"Becky goes the extra mile with her kids - the kids come first with her and she's a team player so she's well deserving," says Longridge assistant principal Jeremy Smalline.

Behind the surprise were Office Max and Adopt A Classroom...giving back to teachers who spend much of their own money on school supplies. On average teachers spend $1,200 dollars of their own money. That adds up to 4 billion dollars nationally.

"It's like you and I going to our work and having to pay for the tools to make us do better, so that's why we are recognizing with this donation of roughly 1,200 dollars to help alleviate that for her," says Brent Roberts of Office Max.

Pens, pencils, paper...even a new chair, everything this teacher needs to do the best job she can with her students.

"It's great to see the teachers get recognized for their hard work and understand how a lot of this does come out of their own pocket,” says Smalline.

For Becky - it's not the kids that truly matter. "You just put forth so much effort you just kind of wonder, not so much if it's recognized, because you do it for the kids, that's where my passion is, but it's really nice to know that it is recognized."

Four other teachers in the Rochester area were also honored Tuesday.