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$25,000 Milken Educator Award Shines Spotlight on Surprised Nitro High School Teacher Adam Wolfe

Kanawha County Schools' Adam Wolfe, engineer-turned-educator, earns national recognition for excellence in teaching

December 17, 2024

Santa Monica, Calif. — Excitement was in the air this morning as Nitro High School (NHS) students and staff gathered for an all-school assembly with West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. With local dignitaries, media, and a horde of special guests in tow, Stephanie Bishop, vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, took center stage to share a big secret as the crowd erupted in applause: math and engineering teacher Adam Wolfe is West Virginia's sole 2024-25 Milken Educator Award recipient! 

Along with the Award, Wolfe received an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize and national recognition for his outstanding efforts both inside and outside of the classroom. A former engineer, Wolfe harnesses his industry experiences to better support students and connect them to unique community projects and internship opportunities. He is the 80^th Milken Educator Award recipient in West Virginia. 

"Adam Wolfe is the epitome of a truly, deeply engaged educator," said Bishop, who is also a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator. "His ability to show students how classroom projects translate to real-life is outstanding, and his students are gaining valuable, hands-on experiences within their community before ever leaving high school. We look forward to his contributions to the Milken Educator Network. Congratulations, Adam!" 

Today, Wolfe joins a national network of over 3,000 Milken Educators spanning the Awards' nearly 40-year history as the nation's preeminent teacher-recognition program. 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. 

"Mr. Wolfe is a phenomenal educator who embraces collaboration, innovation and compassion inside and outside of the classroom," said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. "His students and community are enriched by his dedication, and he fully embodies the values of the Milken Family Foundation. We are proud to recognize him as a part of West Virginia's strong Milken tradition." 

Outstanding educators like Wolfe are not aware of their candidacy for the Award. Recipients are sought out while early- to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award. 

More About Adam Wolfe 

Exciting Classroom Projects: Adam Wolfe cultivates a culture of innovation and continuous growth for his students at Nitro High School (NHS), where he teaches math and engineering. A former engineer himself, Wolfe provides unique, hands-on opportunities for students that connect classroom lessons to real-world applications. He teaches an upper-level geometry course, and four pre-engineering classes through the school's involvement in Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Collaborating with local organizations and government agencies, Wolfe enables students to apply their classroom knowledge through networking and community projects. His students' work has both academic and community benefits, highlighted through the design of a crosswalk with lights for a local elementary school; a partnership with the West Virginia State Parks system to design and sell Christmas ornaments; and the rebuilding of a local community pool's swim team record board. Wolfe also fosters community partnerships and opportunities for students outside of his engineering classes, such as a logo redesign project for the National Guard. 

Relating Learning to Life: To find a niche for every student, Wolfe implements creative instructional practices and learning experiences to pique students' interest, like using an ultraviolet light to purify water or restoring old video games. Wolfe establishes lasting partnerships with community organizations, bridging the gap between theoretical and practical applications of subject matter. This approach prepares students in advancing successfully to the next stage of their learning, whether in academics or the workforce. 

Spreading the Love of STEM: Wolfe's leadership and positive influence extend beyond his classroom as he mentors other teachers, has presented at the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) conference, coordinated a mentor program for ninth grade students to effectively transition to higher grade levels, and worked with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC) on a mathematical model to redefine athletic classifications among the state's high school basketball programs. Further supporting students, Wolfe facilitates summer student internships with outside engineering firms, has coached the math field day team, and sponsored NHS’ first robotics team. During COVID, Wolfe worked with others to 3D-print masks to deliver to hospitals in need. 

Education: Wolfe earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 2010, a Master of Science in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2012, and a Master of Arts in educational leadership from Salem University in 2024. 

The Milken Educator Award Reaps Lifelong Benefits 

• The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children's or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
• Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs.
• The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April 2025, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education.
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels. 

Follow the Milken Educator Awards tour and use the #MEA3K and #MilkenAward hashtags on: Facebook (MilkenEducatorAwards)| X (Milken)| YouTube (MilkenAward)| Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn)| LinkedIn (MilkenFamilyFdn)| TikTok (MilkenAward).

Visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 for more information.

About the Milken Educator Awards: "The Future Belongs to the Educated"
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. Recipients are heralded in early- to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The Milken Family Foundation celebrates more than 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

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