Terrell Taylor’s eyes widened in shock as he walked into the freshman lecture room Tuesday at Merrillville High School.

Inside, his students, family, staff members and officials from tool supply company Harbor Freight clapped and waved purple and white pom poms.

Then, Taylor saw his name and Merrillville High School on an oversized $100,000 check.

He took a small leap and put his hands on his knees as the surprise registered. Taylor was one of five national top winners in Harbor Freight’s Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.

The prize includes $70,000 for MHS and $30,000 for Taylor, who’s been teaching construction trades classes for seven years after a career building homes and managing major projects nationwide.

Harbor Freight’s foundation also awarded 20 teachers and th

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