Guerrero Elementary teacher Bradley Breuer knew something was up Tuesday when he saw Arizona deputy superintendent of schools Margaret Dugan and other dignitaries in the front row of the assembly at his school.

Then he heard his own name echo over the public-address system: The fourth-grade teacher had been honored with a $25,000 Milken National Educator Award.

There are 100 educators honored nationwide. Breuer is this year's only Arizona recipient.

Looking a bit stunned, his eyes wide open, Breuer explained that teaching had been a last-minute major in college.

"(Mine) was the last name I was expecting," Breuer, 31, said.

A stellar teacher must possess or acquire certain essentials: smarts, a little humor and the patience of Job. Breuer was honored for demonstrating all these attributes in the past four years at the school, where he's become a mentor-teacher, helping his peers with teaching techniques.

Unlike most teaching awards, the Milken awards have no formal application process. Instead, educators are recommended by an expert panel appointed by each state's Department of Education. The awards were established in 1987, before Michael Milken was sent to prison for securities fraud.

The Mesa teacher was unsure how he would spend the unrestricted $25,000 award, but said it would likely go toward a new family addition.

"My wife will have our son very soon," he said.