Milken Educators: Where Are They Now? (Part 1)

Dexter Chaney (IL ’10) 

Then:

At the time he received his Milken Educator Award in 2010, Dexter Chaney was a third-grade teacher at Martin A. Ryerson Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. Dexter applied personalized instruction techniques that led to significant academic gains for the students at that school. 

As a member of the Chicago Area Alliance of Black School Educators, Dexter initiated community-based projects like the “Clean and Green Day,”a neighborhood cleanup program that paired male teachers with middle-school students to encourage teamwork and provide mentorship.

Now:

Dexter continues to be a role model to students as the Assistant Principal at a college-preparatory public school—KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Destiny Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. He is also completing the Miles Family Fellowship, a two-year leadership development pathway that could lead to the founding of a new school in an underserved community. 

Related Connections article: Rising to the Top to Help Those at the Bottom

In his own words:

“The Milken Educator Award has pushed me to think about how important it is to be an advocate for our kids and our profession.  So often, the story of educators is told by people who do not serve in schools.  I appreciate the Milken family because they have pushed me to say more, do more, and be more for our kids and families.”