PORT ORCHARD — Michael Anderson’s fourth-grade Spanish Immersion class at Burley Glenwood Elementary in Port Orchard did something that’s not so easy for youngsters: they kept secret a big announcement about their teacher.

So when KING5 “Evening Magazine” host Saint Bryan and administrators from South Kitsap School District walked into Anderson’s classroom Nov. 2, the second-year teacher, facing his tight-lipped students, may have known something was up — just not what it was all about.

The school’s principal, Darek Grant, cut the suspense by announcing to the knowing class of fourth-graders, all no doubt wearing Cheshire cat grins, that Andersen had been voted the “Best Teacher in Western Washington” on the television show.

“Mr. Andersen is a second-year teacher at Burley and he has made a great impact in his short time at our school,” Grant said. “He makes learning fun for his kids and he is full of fresh ideas.

“We are proud of Mr. Andersen and this award is well deserved.”

A segment on Andersen’s award will air on “Evening Magazine” on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Darek Grant, Burley Glenwood Elementary principal, stands next to fourth-grade Spanish Immersion class teacher Michael Andersen, KING5 “Evening Magazine” host Saint Bryan and South Kitsap School District Superintendent Karst Brandsma. (Photo: South Kitsap School District)