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Giving Back by Paying Forward

“Going from being a student here to now being a teacher here, I just think that it’s an incredible gift to be able to give back to this community. I truly love coming to work every single day. And the fact that I was recognized as a [Milken] Educator…I’m just so thrilled about it because it’s for doing something that I love.” — Kevin Winters (TN ’13)

Dear Champions of Education,

This Valentine’s Day week, we showed our love for amazing educators by honoring two who are clearly doing what they love. While both will go to any lengths to help the students in their purview, they also demonstrate that you don’t have to travel a great distance to make a great difference—both of them now teach in the schools they attended.

Kevin Winters (TN ’13)

Kevin is a TAP master teacher, teaching 6^th-grade math at Athens City Middle School in Athens, TN. Using everything from statistical tools to an actual tool belt filled with flash cards and markers, Kevin is giving back to his community by exciting its future leaders about learning. So why was Kevin “shocked” to hear his name? What do others attribute his success to? Find out in the video. Then flip through the gallery to get the 12,000-words-worth story in photos (after all, you don't have to be a math or arts teacher to know that a picture is worth a thousand words).

William King (KY ’13)

Our second hometown hero this week is William King of Bowling Green High School in Bowling Green, KY. William is the freshman principal at his alma mater, overseeing the 9^th-grade curriculum and that important transition year for students entering high school. Read William’s bio to see how staying in the community that he was raised in hasn’t kept him from making a difference on a national level. How humble is William? Watch his delayed reaction to hearing his name announced as our honoree, while he wondered if there was a different William King there that Dr. Jane Foley (IN ’94) was referring to. And in the photo gallery, we may have an MEA first: a presenter making a video of the students as he makes his remarks.

While our two new Milken Educators (and their spouses) have a little extra to celebrate this Valentine’s Day, our affection extends to every tireless, passionate educator. If you haven’t seen it, don’t miss (and share) our special Valentine’s Day tribute on Facebook.

With love and gratitude,
Boris Kievsky
Newsletter Editor
Manager, Online Communications and Engagement
Milken Family Foundation