DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- In a state currently dealing with a teacher shortage, the Teacher of the Year Award has been considered one of Connecticut's highest honors since the first award was given in 1952.

This year, the award was given to Brian Betesh, a social studies teacher at Rogers Middle School in Danbury who has been teaching for 19 years and actually attended the school.

"When I applied to work here, I was just a kid looking for a chance. I didn't realize I would come to find my purpose," Betesh said. "There's never been a day in my 19 years of teaching where I've woken up and said, 'I don't want to go to school today.'"

Betesh was one of several candidates who were nominated for the award by a committee of fellow educators, but Gov. Ned Lamont said every teacher is worthy of h

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