Latest news with #MilkenEducatorAwards
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liberty Common teacher, administrator earns prestigioius Milken Educator Award
Chris Reynolds was sitting in the back of the gym with a handful of other teachers during an all-school assembly Friday morning at Liberty Common High School. He had no idea, what was coming. Then, in an effort to mimic a televised entertainment awards show, Colorado Commissioner of Education Susana Cordova, opened a sealed envelope and announced that Reynolds had won a Milken Educator Award, complete with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. The awards were designed to be 'the Oscars of education,' said presenter Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards. 'We have a great Spanish teacher who was sitting behind me, and I was like, 'Oh gosh, it's going to be you,'' Reynolds said. 'I was kind of shocked when they said my name.' Reynolds is the only Milken Educator Award winner in Colorado this year and one of just 45 nationally, Foley said. Besides Foley, a 1994 winner while she was teaching in Indiana, 10 other previous winners from five different states were on hand for the award presentation, including Scott DeVries, a retired teacher at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins who won the award in 1999. More: Rocky Mountain High School science teacher receives Presidential Award for Excellence All of this year's winners also receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Milken Educator Awards Forum from April 1-3 in Los Angeles, where they will have the opportunity to network with other educators 'about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education,' the Milken Family Foundation said in a news release. This year's winners will each be paired with a veteran Milken Educator mentor. 'I'm at a loss for words,' Reynolds told the assembly after receiving his award. 'My main thought is there's so many other deserving people in this building that could have and should have won this award. And so, I'm grateful to all of you that I get to work with all of you. I love my students.' Reynolds is the assistant principal at Liberty Common High School, a charter school authorized by Poudre School District. He teaches an Advanced Placement course in microeconomics and also is the school's cross-country coach and former athletic director. Reynolds taught economics, government, history and philosophy for 11 years at Mead High School before coming to Liberty Common four years ago, after the oldest of his two children was selected through a lottery to attend Liberty Common's elementary school. 'He's just been a perfect addition to the teaching faculty and now the administration,' said Bob Schaffer, Liberty Common's co-founder, headmaster and a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. 'His training is classical, his commitment to the academic discipline of his coursework is pretty profound and pretty deep. He's an academic leader not just in his classroom and his department but for the entire school.' Reynolds has a particular knack, Schaffer said, for helping students 'who have to put a little extra effort and work into getting across the finish line' to earn a high school diploma. 'He's a godsend.' Foley travels the country throughout the school year honoring winners of the Milken Educator Awards, created in 1987 by philanthropist Lowell Milken. The goal, she said, is to honor teachers who are in the early to middle stages of their career for what they have achieved and the promise of what they can accomplish. There are three goals, she said, in honoring the nation's top K-12 educators. The first is to 'reward them and give them an incentive to stay in the profession,' Foley said. 'The second goal is to bring public recognition and acknowledgement' of the 'good that's happening in education.' And the third, she said, is to get students in the audience to consider careers in education. 'We hope somebody will go home today and say, 'I'm going to be a teacher; I'm going to be a principal, just like Mr. Reynolds.' Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@ and This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Liberty Common teacher, administrator wins prestigious national award
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Northeast Nebraska teacher presented with prestigious Milken Educator Award
NELIGH, Neb. (KCAU) — In a surprise assembly Tuesday, a northeast Nebraska teacher was presented with the Milken Educator Award for Nebraska and an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. The lucky recipient was Dexter Hanzel, who teaches math and science at Neligh-Oakdale Junior/Senior High School in Neligh, Nebraska. Students and teachers from the entire school were in attendance, as well as Neb. Governor Jim Pillen, State Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher, and Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller. Sioux City man wins $30K scratch game prize 'Today we celebrate Dexter Hanzel for his immense commitment to excellence in education and ability to create powerful, creative learning opportunities for students,' Fuller said. 'Congratulations, Dexter! Your leadership and positive influence are changing the lives of your students, supporting your colleagues, strengthening your community and elevating education in Nebraska.' Hanzel is the 49th Nebraska honoree in the award's history and the Neligh-Oakdale district's first. He teaches eighth through 12th grade students through hands-on and collaborative methods; acts as a leader at the school level and the district level; and serves the Neligh-Oakdale community, according to a release. 'Dexter's commitment to his school and to his students is evident in all of the extra things he chooses to do above and beyond his normal duties as a teacher,' Maher said in a statement. 'We are thrilled to see him recognized with this award and so happy that his story will be shared as an example of the excellent educators we have in Nebraska.' The Milken Educator Awards have been given out to educators across the country since 1987, typically to those in their early and middle careers. Since then, over $75 million in individual cash prizes have been handed out. Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System takes control of main campus buildings Up to 45 professionals will be honored during this year's award season. They will then be invited to attend an all-expenses-paid forum in Los Angeles this April. For more information, . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fabens teacher wins prestigious Milken award
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Nancy Chavira, a teacher in the Fabens Independent School District, got a big surprise on Friday morning, Feb. 7. When she went to a scheduled school assembly featuring Texas Education Agency Deputy Commissioner of Operations Alejandro Delgado, she had no idea that she was actually the guest of honor. Chavira was presented with the Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 cash prize, that she can use however she wants, according to a news release sent out by the Milken Educator Award program. Chavira is a fifth-grade math and science lead teacher at Johanna O'Donnell Intermediate School. She teaches in what is called a 50-50 classroom where students learn in both Spanish and English. She is the first-ever Milken Educator Award recipient in Fabens ISD history and the 58th recipient in the Lone Star State since Texas joined the Milken Educator Awards in 2000. 'Nancy Chavira sets a high bar when it comes to being a role model for young students and fellow colleagues,' said Jane Foley, who is the senior vice president for the Milken Educator Awards and is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. 'Her unwavering dedication has made a positive impact on her classroom, school and the community. Thank you, Nancy, for encouraging your students to dream big and spark a love of lifelong learning. Congratulations and welcome to the Milken Educator Network of excellence.' Chavira joins a national network of over 3,000 Milken educators spanning the awards' nearly 40-year history. 'Hailed as the 'Oscars of Teaching,' the Milken Educator Awards inspire educators, students and entire communities to 'Celebrate, Elevate and Activate' the K-12 teaching profession and encourage young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career. More than $75 million in individual financial prizes and more than $145 million have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall,' according to the news release. The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education, the news release said. Visit or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Massachusetts science teacher gets prestigious national award
Southbridge teacher Jillian Lombardi has been named as the only teacher in Massachusetts to receive the Milken Educator Award in the 2024-25 season, state officials said Friday. The prestigious national honor also comes with a check for $25,000 that Lombardi, who teaches science to sixth graders, can use however she chooses. 'Jillian Lombardi sparks curiosity, excitement and a genuine love of learning in her hands-on classroom,' Greg Gallagher, Milken Family Foundation senior program director, said in a statement. 'Her enthusiastic approach to education is contagious, and it is just one of the many ways she will contribute to the national Milken Educator Network. Congratulations, Jillian!' Lombardi joins over 3,000 Milken educators spanning the awards' nearly 40-year history. 'Hailed as the 'Oscars of Teaching,' the Milken Educator Awards inspire educators, students and entire communities to 'Celebrate, Elevate and Activate' the K-12 teaching profession and encourage young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career,' officials said. More than $75 million in monetary prizes and more than $145 million have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall. 'I could not be happier to see Jillian Lombardi recognized with this honor,' said Acting DESE Commissioner Russell Johnston. 'I have visited her classroom, I know the outstanding work she has done with OpenSciEd and I know she is a wonderful representative of all the Southbridge and Massachusetts educators who believe in their students and work so hard for them every day.' Officials said Lombardi maintains high expectations for herself and her students and supports them in reaching their potential. Officials said Lombardi is known to make home calls to ensure students are diligent in completing their homework and serves as an advisor for students who need additional academic assistance. Her firm yet nurturing approach pays off. Her tennis team earned the 'best academic achievement for a sports team honor,'' officials said. In her Student Advisory Group, officials said Lombardi increased the percentage of students completing homework from two-thirds to 83%, and she has supported the middle school's schoolwide math goals by leading a daily math intervention and increasing math proficiency with her students on the iReady diagnostic year over year. 'She also makes interdisciplinary skills a priority, working with math and English language arts teachers on lessons that transfer learning from the classroom to the real world,' officials said. Lombardi will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April. Lombardi earned her bachelor's degree in animal science in 2017 from the University of Rhode Island and a master's degree in education in 2021 from the American International College in Massachusetts. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Clarendon Elementary School principal wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award
Principal Jeff Martin began Clarendon Elementary School's assembly on Tuesday morning as he would any other. Little did he know he would receive a prestigious national award, including a $25,000 cash prize. Martin was surprised to receive the Milken Educator Award. He was unaware that he would receive an award at the assembly or that any award would be presented. The Milken Family Foundation presents the Milken Educator Awards, launched in 1987 by philanthropist Lowell Milken. The awards honor excellence in education and are typically given to early-to-mid-career educators. They honor educators for what they have accomplished and will continue to achieve in the future. More than 3,000 educators have received Milken awards. Martin was under the impression that people from the Arizona Department of Education and Osborn Elementary School District were attending the assembly to honor students. Speakers at the assembly included Osborn Elementary Superintendent Michael Robert, Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Margaret Garcia Dugan and Joshua Barnett, CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. Barnett told the assembly that the Milken Educator Award is like the Oscars or the Grammys for education. Barnett's announcement that Martin would receive the award was met with loud applause and excited cheers from the teachers and students at the assembly. Previous Arizona recipients of the Milken award were also present and spoke at the assembly. Martin choked up as he thanked his fellow educators at Clarendon. "I'm just so lucky to work with such amazing people," Martin said. The Milken Family Foundation credited Martin with helping Clarendon Elementary improve from a C to a B in the Arizona Department of Education's school report card rating system this past year. According to the foundation, Martin selects a classroom to teach in during the first quarter to ensure he is aware of the needs of students and teachers. The foundation also attributed high teacher retention to Martin's efforts. He attends weekly department meetings and meets weekly with new teachers throughout the school year, according to the group. After the assembly, Martin said he was caught off guard, having not known what to expect from the assembly. He said he wasn't quite sure what he would do with the prize money and joked that he would need to talk to his wife first. The couple will also get a free trip to Los Angeles to attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum in April. Milken honorees also have mentorship opportunities, including being paired with a veteran Milken educator. Martin, who is originally from Indianapolis, attended Purdue University. There, he got involved with College Mentors for Kids, which pairs college students with elementary students for a weekly mentorship program. Martin later joined Teach for America and moved to the Phoenix area in 2011 for a two-year program. "I really caught the teaching bug, and I love seeing the light bulb moment on students' faces," Martin said. "And I just became really addicted to that. So here I am, 14 years later." Martin has worked in the Osborn Elementary School District for his whole career. Before becoming a principal, he taught English language arts to seventh and eighth graders, worked as a behavior interventionist and was an assistant principal. Osborn serves more than 2,800 pre-K through eighth grade students in Phoenix. Clarendon Elementary is just north of Osborn Road on North 11th Avenue. It serves about 450 students in grades four through six. "My staff puts in a lot of hours to make sure that our students are able to succeed, to close the opportunity gap for our students and really have our community shine," Martin said. Reach the reporter at ahardle@ or by phone at 480-708-1633. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle. Denied: Arizona Board of Education denies air purifier voucher request This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix principal wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award
