A teacher from Warren Harding High School got quite the surprise Tuesday when she learned she was named Connecticut's 2019 Teacher of the Year.

Sheena Graham is best known as Mama Graham by her students. She's been a teacher for more than 30 years and primarily teaches music. It's the first time in more than 20 years that a teacher from Bridgeport received the award.

Gov. Dannell Malloy made the trip out to Bridgeport to congratulate Graham this morning in the high school's brand-new media center. The event included performances by her music students, speeches from local officials and a touching speech from Graham herself, who says she was in total shock to learn about her recognition.

"I thought that it was amazing to have taught so long," says Graham. "This is my 36th year and for someone to think that I was still relevant and that I still had something to offer was just the most amazing feeling in the world."

Graham says she enjoys teaching music because it helped her overcome her speech impediment as a child. She says it also helped her feel more comfortable around others.