Ames Middle School Special Education Teacher David Doughan was all smiles Tuesday when a quick knock on his classroom door was followed by a crowd pressing into the room along with a live television microphone and camera.

"I'm really shocked and surprised," Doughan said to ABC Channel 5 reporter Chris Flanagan.

Flanagan arrived, along with representatives from partners Bankers Trust, Prairie Meadows and Heartland Tire and Auto Center, to present Doughan with a $1,000 check for the "One Classroom at a Time Education Grant."

Doughan will use the money to purchase software for the Read Naturally program, which supports students who struggle in reading fluency and comprehension. Doughan expects the software to be available to all students who struggle with their reading, including special education students.

"Teaching materials cost a fortune," Doughan said. "This is like they just gave me $1 million."

Doughan, who uses his personal income to supplement the school's teaching supplies, said he doesn't keep track of how much he spends out of his own pocket because if he did, he suspects the information would be too upsetting.

"But I really don't mind doing it," he said. "In order to do a better job teaching, I have to do it."

Travis Thompson, with Heartland Tire and Auto Center, said the granting program gives $1,000 every month of the school year to central-Iowa schools. This is only the second one given to an Ames school, he said. The first was to Ames High School. This is the third year of the program.

"We look at the longevity of the granting program and how many people it will help," Thompson said.

Doughan's idea was a winner, Thompson said, because it would be available to the whole district and was on-going.

However, Doughan's grant proposal very nearly never existed at all.

"That's why I was so shocked," Doughan said. "When I sent it over the Internet, I got back a notice that the e-mail failed to send and was lost."

Thompson said the granting committee considers five or 10 proposals a month.      

"This granting program is about providing schools and teachers with things that are above and beyond the regular curriculum," Thompson said.

Doughan thanked Channel 5 and the sponsors.

"When kids are struggling with their reading, it affects everything else they do at school," he said.

More information about the "One Classroom at a Time Education Grant" is available at www.woi-tv.com.