It couldn’t have come at a better time.

First grade teacher Tiffany Cessna, a Katy High school graduate and UH Cougar who now teaches first grade at Mayde Creek Elementary, was struggling with car trouble and had even taken Uber rides in order to get to work at the campus at 2698 Greenhouse Rd. Although she was saving up for a new vehicle, she diverted some of those dollars to help her parents with medical bills after her father was recently diagnosed with cancer.

She certainly didn’t anticipate the surprise that came on Friday, March 22nd.

Just before lunchtime, Cessna was called to the office by Mayde Creek Elementary Principal Felicia Ashabranner, for a “conference.” The blinds in the office were shuttered so she was unable to see the crowd of well-wishers gathered outside. When she was escorted out to the parking lot amid cheers and applause, she saw a new white Nissan Kicks in the driveway with a big red bow on top – and Rick and Brittany Francis holding a bouquet of flowers just for her.

Cessna was informed that she had won the car in a contest sponsored by local Katy dealership Shottenkirk Nissan where Rick Francis is the general manager. The car giveaway contest – which asked parents and teachers to nominate a Katy ISD teacher and tell why they deserved a new car – began last August after launching at the CommUnity Expo sponsored by the Katy Christian Chamber of Commerce. Cessna was nominated in 65 of the 700 entries in the contest, Rick Francis said. Cessna said she was aware of the contest and had shared it with “a couple of parents” but had no idea that she had been nominated at all.

“Oh my gosh! I don’t know what to say,” said Cessna as she was presented the keys. “My car is on its last legs.”

When Principal Ashabranner said that the Mayde Creek Elementary staff would help Cessna cover the sales tax on the vehicle, Brittany Francis announced that her nonprofit organization, Kintsukuori Ministries, would cover that expense.

“We wanted to reward anyone who makes a positive impact on our children in our community,” said Rick Francis when asked about the reason for the contest. He comes from a family of educators and he added that the dealership wants to celebrate teachers who devote their time and energy to students in the community.