Penn Hills teacher Lisa O'Connor learned last week how special she is to her students.

Her first-grade class at Shenandoah Elementary School surprised her with an elaborate birthday party.

"I'm not used to being the center of attention," she says. "It's nice to be thought of. There was a lot of thought and planning that went into this party."

Besides the standard cake, ice cream and balloons, O'Connor received an oversized handwritten card, letters and handmade paper flowers from her students.

Several students read their letters to O'Connor.

Student Trina Crosby told O'Connor, "You are a nice teacher. I like how you teach math. I like your class the best."

Student Brennan Phelps also showed his appreciation of O'Connor.

"I am glad that I am in your class. You have helped me learn many things," Brennan says. "I hope that you enjoy your birthday and have good things to eat. I wish you have many more birthdays so other children can be taught by you."

O'Connor, who is keeping her age secret, hasn't had a birthday party since college. She is mother of two children, Livia, 3, and Braiden, 7, who have birthdays close to her March 27 birthday.

Braiden was born on March 29 and Livia was born on April 1.

This year, O'Connor's birthday stood out because the school PTA decided to have homeroom moms celebrate teachers' birthdays.

Parent Cheryl Delo, O'Connor's homeroom parent who organized the party for O'Connor, says O'Connor was the only teacher to receive a full-fledged party.

Delo says she was happy to organize the party to show O'Connor the students and parents appreciate her as a teacher.

Kathleen Little, Shenan-doah principal, says she is pleased to see the effort students and Delo took to celebrate O'Connor's birthday. The inclusion of writing letters to O'Connor was a good way to incorporate an educational lesson in the party, she says.