Last year, valedictorian Julian Yuen became the first Farrington High School student to be accepted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This year, Yuen, along with other MIT freshmen, was asked to name the teacher who had made the biggest impact on his life.

As he did in his valedictory speech, Yuen credited Bebi Davis, his high school physics teacher.

Yesterday, as Davis was named the state Teacher of the Year in ceremonies at Aliamanu Middle School, it was apparent that Davis has made an impact on others as well.

"She has brought our physics program, particularly, to a level that I think is the best in the state," said Farrington High School principal Catherine Payne, watching with pride as Davis accepted the honor presented by the state Board of Education. "... Her secret is her spirit. She genuinely loves what she does and she loves her students."

Payne described the teacher she hired as relentless in her pursuit to bring out the most in every student, be he or she struggling or gifted.

"She calls them up if they're not in school. She'll go to their house. She's really tough on them."

Davis has been a physics and chemistry teacher at Farrington since 2002. In 2005, she was named the winner of a prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, and this year she led and advised a Farrington team that won the $75,000 grand prize in the national Lexus Environmental Challenge.

Davis was also the recipient of the Best Buy Teach Award earlier this year and the National Science Teacher Recognition for the Toyota Tapestry Award last year.

In spite of her many honors, Davis seemed stunned to be named teacher of the year.

"I think I'm more speechless than anything," said Davis in accepting the award. She went on to applaud the efforts of her fellow teachers in the room.

"To be recognized for what we do, we really appreciate it, and I know I'm speaking on behalf of everybody here," she said.

Davis was referring to the other six district teachers of the year, who stood alongside her at the presentation and were also in the running for state Teacher of the Year. They are Glenn S.B. Lee, of Waialua High and Intermediate School; Peggy Ann R. Pavao, of Kapolei Middle School; Ramona Takahashi, of Kailua High School; John Constantinou, of Kea'au High School on the Big Island; Roberta S. Kokx, of Kihei Elementary School on Maui; and Mary Lardizabal, of Kapa'a Middle School on Kaua'i.

Davis, who grew up in South America, singled out Payne for praise. "I can't leave here without saying how grateful I am that you hired me seven years ago," said Davis, speaking to Payne in the audience.

Davis concluded by saying that everything about teaching is about the students.

"We have to do whatever it takes to make their future better," she said.

Each district winner received $500 from the program's sponsor, the Polynesian Cultural Center, which presented an additional $1,000 to Davis as state Teacher of the Year.

The SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada gave each district winner gifts of instructional software, and presented Davis with a SMARTBoard and other classroom technology gifts totaling $25,000 in worth.

And finally, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association awarded Davis a free one-year lease on a Volkswagen Jetta.