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Minnesota Teacher Surprised with Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash

Angela Harvala of North Elementary School Received the “Oscars of Teaching”
During Surprise Ceremony in Princeton

October 30, 2014

SANTA MONICA, CA — Angela Harvala, a fifth-grade teacher at Princeton's North Elementary School, was surprised by the Milken Family Foundation as Minnesota’s latest recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award. The national award recognizes outstanding excellence in education and includes a $25,000 cash prize. Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and Dr. Jane Foley, foundation senior vice president for the Milken Educator Awards, were among the leaders participating in the surprise celebration.

While many students cheer the end of another school year, the mood is bittersweet for kids in Angela Harvala’s fifth grade class, who often cry as they say goodbye to their teacher. Harvala is known for creating an uncommon bond with her students and encouraging them to believe in themselves and realize they can create their own future.

Harvala works tirelessly to individualize instruction by gathering information about her students including their achievement data, learning preferences, home life and anything else that could influence their performance. She then uses that information to modify instruction and set specific goals for each student.

Harvala holds her students accountable for their work by asking them to personally rate their own effort and progress. To ensure that students who need extended learning time get the support, she developed a “Catch-Up Club” where students can get assistance with completing assignments on time. She also leads the girls’ iEmpower group after school.

"Angela exemplifies the dedication and commitment that teachers bring to their classrooms every day in Minnesota,” said Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. "It is an honor for me to be a part of honoring Angela’s remarkable achievements as a world-class educator, and to acknowledge the positive impact she has on her students.”

Dubbed “the Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher Magazine, the Milken Educator Awards program was conceived by Lowell Milken to recognize the importance of outstanding educators and encourage talented young people to enter the teaching profession. Unlike most teaching awards, the Milken Educator Awards have no formal nomination or application process. Each year, exceptional teachers, principals and specialists—recommended without their knowledge by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education—are surprised with the news of their awards.

Since first presented to a dozen California teachers in 1987, the program has grown to become the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program having honored more than 2,600 K-12 teachers, principals and specialists. More than $137 million in funding, including over $65 million in individual $25,000 awards, has been devoted to the overall program, which includes powerful professional development opportunities throughout recipients’ careers. In Minnesota, 43 recipients have been honored since the program began.

To get regular updates on notifications, follow the #TeachForTheStars hashtag on Twitter.

For information about the Milken Educator Awards, visit http://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/newsroom/media-kit or call MFF at (310) 570-4775.  Like the Awards at www.facebook.com/milkeneducatorawards, follow us at www.twitter.com/milken and watch the reaction videos at www.youtube.com/milkenaward.

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