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Story Update: 2:50 p.m. CDT

AMARILLO, Texas - Let the voting begin. Josie Valdez, a special education teacher at Amarillo ISD's Glenwood Elementary, in Amarillo, Texas, is a finalist in the "Live with Regis and Kelly" nationwide Top Teacher search.

Valdez just returned from New York City after appearing on the show during the Top Teacher Week.

Viewers will now select one grand-prize winner from the five finalists.

Online voting for the contest opened Friday and will end Saturday evening.

The winning school will receive $20,000 to spend at Staples, and the winning teacher will drive away in a 2011 Ford Mustang.

The winner will be announced Monday, May 24 on Live with Regis and Kelly.

Norah Hernandez a parent of one of Ms. Valdez's students nominated her for the contest.

"One night I woke up and he was in the middle of the kitchen, with a blanket over his head saying please God, please let me be like other kids, and she made that possible," said Hernandez as she spoke about the difference Ms.

Valdez made in her son's life.

Your vote's helped get Ms. Valdez to New York now your votes can help her win. Log on and place your vote for this amazing teacher.

Earlier story, a corrected version, appears below.

One of the teachers nominated for Top Teacher on the Regis & Kelly television show comes from Amarillo, Texas, home of a Barrington sister station and website Connectamarillo.com.

Josie Valdez is a special education teacher at Glenwood Elementary School in Amarillo, and was nominated as one of the top five finalists for the show's Top Teacher Week.

You can vote for Valdez by visiting the show's website and voting there. There are videos there of Valdez and the other nominees. Voting is open Friday and Saturday.