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Which of America’s Best Teachers Will Be Honored

Milken Family Foundation sets off to surprise more than 50 of America’s best teachers with national honor and over $1.3 million in unrestricted cash prizes

September 22, 2009

SANTA MONICA, CA (September 22, 2009)— In the next few weeks, more than 50 of America’s most effective secondary educators will receive the surprise of a lifetime when they are presented with one of education's most prestigious and lucrative national honors, the $25,000 Milken Educator Award.

“Highly effective educators are the human capital that will equip America’s youth in this increasingly competitive global economy. By shining a national spotlight on these exceptional people, the Milken Educator Awards send a powerful message of the critical role that talented teachers play in preparing young people for a bright future,” said Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation.

This is the 23rd year the Milken Family Foundation will travel across the nation to recognize and reward excellence in education with public acclaim and more than $1.3 million in unrestricted cash prizes. The announcements are made during surprise schoolwide assemblies overflowing with cheering students, proud colleagues, and a host of dignitaries and media. In a moment’s time, these unsung heroes gain a significant financial prize and experience the unfamiliar but well-deserved acclaim and acknowledgment they rightly merit.

Dubbed “the Oscars of teaching” by Teacher Magazine, the Milken Educator Awards were conceived by Lowell Milken to recognize the importance of outstanding educators and encourage talented young people to enter the teaching profession. He said, “Milken Educators represent the best of what the American teaching profession is and can be.”

The Awards alternate each year between elementary and secondary educators. Since first presented in 1987 to 12 exemplary California teachers, the Milken Educator Awards program is now the nation’s largest teacher recognition program having honored more than 2,400 educators from coast to coast with over $60 million.

In addition to their cash prizes, the recipients will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the Milken Educator Forum, a national gathering of award-winning educators to address innovative strategies for advancing teacher effectiveness. A highlight of the Forum will be the presentation of the $25,000 Milken Educator Awards at a recognition dinner and ceremony. They will also join the Milken Educator Network, a group of distinguished educators whose expertise serves as a valuable resource to fellow educators, legislators, school boards and others shaping the future of education.

“Milken Educators point to their Award as a pivotal professional milestone,” said Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator. “They understand that encompassed in this recognition is the responsibility to grow as a leader at the school level and beyond. Encouraged and supported, these outstanding educators discover a renewed passion and purpose as they stretch their professional practices and policy influence to even higher levels.”

Award Criteria:

Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;

Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession;

Individuals whose contributions to education are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight;

Early- to mid-career educators who offer strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership; and

Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.

For more information about the Milken Educator Awards and the surprise notification events held across the nation, visit mff.org or call the Foundation at (310) 570-4775. Follow the tour on the Foundation’s National Notifications blog (via mff.org), (YouTube.com/milkenaward), Facebook (Search for "Milken Educator Award), and Twitter (Twitter.com/milken).

An education reformer for three decades, Lowell Milken created the Milken Educator Awards to recognize talented teachers and established TAP™: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement to generate more talented teachers.

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