On April 16, Panera Bread launched a Top Teacher Contest, where Dallas/Fort Worth-area students, parents, teachers, and others can nominate their favorite K-12 teachers (through April 30) to be honored as the area’s favorite educator.

In addition to rewarding the hardworking winning teacher and the person who nominated him or her, each nomination will trigger a $1 donation to our local Feeding America Affiliate’s backpack program, either Tarrant Area Food Bank or North Texas Food Bank, which works to feed local students on the weekend.

Panera has already received more than 600 entries, so the competition will be fierce, but it’s all in good fun to support our local teachers and backpack programs.

Anyone who knows of a deserving teacher can head to www.panerabread.com/topteacher to nominate him or her to win the award, which includes breakfast for the winner’s classroom, a $200 Panera gift card, and $100 in office supplies.

The nomination period runs through April 30, and the winning teacher will be announced on National Teachers Day, May 8.