The cookie crumbled pretty nicely for this Maine educator

Kevin Loranger accepts a $1,000 check from Crumbl owner Anna Stice. At left are Giana Flores and Melissa Arnoldsen from Crumbl headquarters in Utah. (Courtesy photo)

LEBANON, Maine - When Lebanon Elementary School teacher Kevin Loranger was told by an administrator that his fifth-grade class was having a special assembly in the school gym minutes before the end of the school day on Tuesday, he was flabbergasted.
And when he found out what the assembly was for he was shocked.
He'd been selected as Maine's Crumbl Teacher of the Year, and as his students were each treated to a delicious Crumbl Cookie, he was presented with a $1,000 check from Rochester Crumbl Cookie owner Anna Stice.
Loranger was totally taken aback, having no knowledge that the surprise assembly or award was about to unfold.
"He was totally shocked," a school administrator said on Tuesday.

Loranger said on Thursday he indeed was shocked, but added that the honor is a reflection of the compassion and caring of all the educators at Lebanon Elementary School.

"It was an honor to be awarded Teacher of the Year from Crumbl, and I can say that it came as a complete surprise to me," he said. "I am super humble and grateful to receive this, but as I've always said you are only as good as the people you work with, and I work with the best. It was great to see Lebanon elementary School recognized, because we have so many great educators that work here that care deeply for the kids in our schools."

Stice told The Rochester Voice it was an incredibly gratifying experience to surprise and honor Loranger.
"Recognizing Kevin Loranger with the Crumbl Teacher of the Year award for the State of Maine is one of my favorite experiences since we opened our Crumbl store here in Rochester," said Stice. "We have four kids attending school here in our community. We see firsthand the impact their teachers have on, not only their education, but the kind of people they are becoming."
The Crumbl Teacher of the Year awards are given to a single teacher in each of the 50 Unites States as well as Puerto Rico and Canada.

The winners are determined by letters of nomination that are sent Crumbl Cookie.
Crumbl Cookie opened its Rochester store at The Ridge Marketplace in January of 2023.
They also own a Crumbl Cookie store in Portsmouth.
"Teachers pour their time, love, energy, and brain power into their students and receive proportionately little compensation and recognition." Stice added. "In our short interaction with Kevin and his students, we could tell that he is that kind of teacher. Unfortunately we can't appropriately thank all the exceptional teachers in our community, but on behalf of Crumbl, our crews in Rochester and Portsmouth, and our family, I felt deeply honored to recognize Kevin for being a truly excellent teacher."