Latest news with #MilkenFamilyFoundation
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oneida teacher receives national educator award and $25,000 prize
ONEIDA, Tenn. (WATE) — An Oneida teacher was recognized Thursday for the role she plays in furthering excellence in our nation's schools. The Milken Educator Award, presented by the Milken Family Foundation, is only given to 45 educators nationwide. Third grade teacher Stephanie Boshears at Oneida Elementary School was chosen for the work she does here in East Tennessee. Scandal at Chattanooga Prep School sparks concerns about Knoxville Prep School 'As soon as my name got called, instant tears, instant overwhelm, I really didn't even know what to think. In that moment, I was just so pleased and blessed that someone thought of me as an amazing teacher,' said Boshears. As part of earning the Milken Educator Award, Boshears was awarded $25,000 unrestricted donation she can choose how to use. According to the Milken Family Foundation representative Joshua Barnett, receiving this award is like the 'Oscar of teaching.' 'It really is a reflection on what's happening in a community,' said Barnett, who is also the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching CEO. 'We know that education is a pathway to change opportunities for students and for communities.' End of USDA funding for fresh local produce hits Grainger County Schools With this award not only representing herself, but the community she grew up and learned in, Boshears said there is no better place to be a teacher. 'I feel like our superintendent, every person that I am surrounded by, I feel love from them, love for the kids. And who wouldn't want to work in a system where you know that everyone is out to better the children that are there and help grow their teachers?' While this award celebrates her achievements, Barnett said it also creates a network for teachers to become mentors among each other, something Boshears said she hopes to be someday. 'I think my goal would be to step out of the classroom and actually help aspiring teachers,' she said. 'That's my biggest goal, is to help them learn and grow, and know that I took part in someone else's journey of helping kids.' ▶ See more top stories on Recipients for the Milken Educator Award are considered without their knowledge by a panel appointed by each state's department of education. The award originated to encourage education as a profession to advance ways to help people lead productive lives. 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
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kalihi Uka teacher awarded $25K Milken educator prize
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, center, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award and received a $25, 000 prize. Joining Inamasu on stage was 2005 winner Bebi Davis, left, and Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation. 1 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, center, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award and received a $25, 000 prize. Joining Inamasu on stage was 2005 winner Bebi Davis, left, and Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Shown at Kalihi Uka Elementary School on Tuesday are Rochelle Mahoe, left, Keith Hayashi, Derek Santos, teacher Kristy Inamasu, Jane Foley, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Rep. Ikaika Hussey. 2 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Shown at Kalihi Uka Elementary School on Tuesday are Rochelle Mahoe, left, Keith Hayashi, Derek Santos, teacher Kristy Inamasu, Jane Foley, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Rep. Ikaika Hussey. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, right, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly. 3 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, right, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation raised her hands Tuesday as she revealed with help from the crowd at Kalihi Uka Elementary School the amount of prize money that would be awarded to the winner of the Educator Award. 4 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation raised her hands Tuesday as she revealed with help from the crowd at Kalihi Uka Elementary School the amount of prize money that would be awarded to the winner of the Educator Award. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, center, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award and received a $25, 000 prize. Joining Inamasu on stage was 2005 winner Bebi Davis, left, and Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Shown at Kalihi Uka Elementary School on Tuesday are Rochelle Mahoe, left, Keith Hayashi, Derek Santos, teacher Kristy Inamasu, Jane Foley, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Rep. Ikaika Hussey. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Kalihi Uka Elementary School teacher Kristy Inamasu, right, was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation raised her hands Tuesday as she revealed with help from the crowd at Kalihi Uka Elementary School the amount of prize money that would be awarded to the winner of the Educator Award. A kindergarten teacher at Kalihi Uka Elementary School was honored Tuesday as Hawaii's sole recipient of the 2025 Milken Educator Award. Kristy Inamasu, a Maui High School graduate and former volleyball player at Chaminade University, was surprised with the recognition—often called the 'Oscar of Teaching '—during a morning assembly. Along with the accolade, Inamasu received a $25, 000 unrestricted cash award and joined a national network of more than 3, 000 educators recognized over the nearly 40-year history of the Milken Educator Awards, the nation's leading teacher recognition program. 'Kristy Inamasu is nurturing and inspiring the minds of her young students and fellow educators across the Aloha State, ' said Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley, who is also a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. 'Kristy's enthusiasm to make a daily, tangible impact in her classroom and school is commendable. Thank you, Kristy, for your exemplary dedication to the profession. The Milken Educator Network will benefit from your contributions and commitment to advancing teaching and learning.' The Milken Family Foundation's 2024-2025 tour will recognize up to 45 educators across the nation, highlighting K-12 educators. Inamasu is the 83rd recipient in the state since Hawaii joined the Milken Educator Awards in 1990. 'When I heard my name, I couldn't believe it. Instant tears, ' Inamasu said. 'It's definitely something that I didn't expect. There are so many deserving teachers and educators here in Hawaii, especially here at Kalihi Uka. It's definitely something that I did not expect, but I'm so thankful for it.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Inamasu said recognizing educators through awards like the Milken Educator Award can encourage more teachers to enter the profession and continue making a difference for Hawaii's students. She began teaching at Kalihi Uka about a decade ago and said she loves working with kindergarten students because 'every day is a new day.' 'The students in kindergarten just love to learn. I love feeling their curiosity and their love for learning, and just teaching them to be kind, responsible humans that will eventually grow and make a positive impact in our community, ' she said. One of Inamasu's students, 6-year-old Akela, described her as her favorite teacher. 'She's kind and nice and smart and teaches me math, ' Akela said. 'I'm smart because she teaches me addition and subtraction.' Akela added that she loves learning in Inamasu's classroom and wishes she could have her as a teacher 'forever.' Inamasu told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that she has known since childhood that she wanted to be a teacher. As a shy student, she had a positive experience with her teachers, which inspired her career path. As an educator, she aims to help all students reach their highest potential, even exceeding it, while providing them with opportunities to take risks and develop a love for learning. Inamasu said her priority is to create a safe and nurturing environment for her students. 'The most important aspect of our job is to create a stable foundation, ' she said. 'We are with our students for six-plus hours a day. They see us just as much as they do their families sometimes. So creating those positive relationships with students is most important to me.' Clyde Sabas, Inamasu's colleague, described Ina masu as 'one of the most amazing teachers ' has ever worked with. 'She really dedicates her career, her life, to the students, ' Sabas said. 'You can just see how amazing her teaching is through her class. All the students who have had her as a teacher—you can see the impact she's had on all of them, in every area : in their learning, in their social-emotional health and their behavior. She's one of those teachers that definitely stands out as an educator.' Sabas, an English-language coordinator and teacher with 18 years of experience at Kalihi Uka Elementary, highlighted the school's commitment to its students despite its smaller size compared with other DOE schools. 'It's an amazing school. We are dedicated, and we strive to give the students the best education we could possibly give them, to prepare them for their future schooling and for their careers, ' Sabas said. Sabas described Inamasu not only as an educator, but also as a trusted friend. 'She's so giving, she's so supportive, she's very kindhearted, and on a personal level, she's supported my two sons in fundraising, providing them with support as they play volleyball just like she did when she was at Chaminade University, ' Sabas said. 'She's very generous and helps all her colleagues here. 'We love to work with her, and no one deserves this award more than she does.' Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School teacher Jade Pham and Waiakea High School teacher Rory Ino uye from Hawaii island, both Milken Educator Award recipients from 2024, attended Tuesday's award ceremony to celebrate and recognize Inamasu. 'Winning the Milken award last year had me reflect on my teaching and what I do, ' Inouye said. 'When they first announce your name, it was just shock, tons of emotions, but when you settle down … you start to think about the contributions you make to your school and your community.' 'Over the past 10 months, since I got my notification, it's just been reflecting upon how else I can keep improving. How else can I help my community and, ultimately, the students ?' Pham and Inouye were not acquainted prior to the award, but they have since become close in the educator community, connecting with each other, learning from one another and networking with other educators in the tightknit, supportive community. 'I just want Kristy to know that she is completely deserving of this award, ' Pham said. 'Everything that she has done for her students and her community is appreciated. It's seen and it's valued, and she'll continue to do amazing work, whether it's at Kalihi Uka, at another school or anywhere at any point in her career. She's in it. She's got it. And I want the best for her, and I can't wait to get to know her more.'
