Press Releases    All Press Releases

Third Mississippi Teacher Honored with National Milken Educator Award During Nationwide Tour Recognizing Excellence in Education

Houston High School's Anna Katherine Davis becomes first-ever recipient in district to receive the prestigious honor and unrestricted $25,000 cash prize

January 11, 2024

Houston, Miss. — A third and final Mississippi educator was bestowed the prestigious Milken Educator Award, a national honor recognizing exceptional educators for excellence and innovation in education. Anna Katherine Davis, a Houston High School math teacher, was surprised with the Award by the Milken Family Foundation at a schoolwide assembly in front of cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media. In addition to the prestige, the Award includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize she may use however she chooses. Davis is the first-ever recipient from Chickasaw County School District and joins Jennifer Hite and Kristien Long, who were surprised yesterday in Pearl and Philadelphia, Mississippi, respectively.    

Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," the Awards will honor up to 75 recipients across the country in 2023-24 as part of the Milken Family Foundation's Journey to the 3,000^th Milken Educator. 2023-24 will reach $75 million in individual financial prizes spanning the length of the initiative and more than $144 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to "Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate" the K-12 profession and inspiring young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career. 

The Award was presented by Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop and Interim State Superintendent of Education Dr. Raymond C. Morgigno. 

"Anna Katherine Davis is a go-to expert for engaging students in math and using innovative approaches to maximize student potential," said Bishop, who is a 2001 Milken Educator from Virginia. "Her leadership has far-reaching impact, motivating students to become independent thinkers, supporting colleagues, and making positive contributions to the school and broader community." 

"The Mississippi Department of Education congratulates Anna Katherine Davis for earning this national award that honors her dynamic leadership as a math teacher at Houston High School," said Dr.Morgigno. "We applaud her efforts to continuously make a positive impact on students and colleagues." 

More About Anna Katherine Davis  

Innovating Beyond Limits: Davis' dedication to finding creative solutions to classroom challenges underscores her commitment to her students’ continuous learning. Never becoming complacent with her instructional practices, she integrates technology into her curriculum whenever possible and consistently adapts and evolves to meet the needs of her students by incorporating new apps, products and programs. Amid the challenges of the COVID pandemic, Davis wholeheartedly embraced technology in her mission to educate and engage her students. Using a smart panel along with Google Meet, a tablet and a laptop, Davis created a virtual classroom where students could be actively involved and receive real-time feedback. Her innovative approach was not only effective in mitigating learning loss during the pandemic, but it also became a catalyst for significant academic growth among her students. 

Diverse Leadership: Davis is a dynamic force in shaping the educational landscape beyond her classroom, as well. As the chair of the high school math department, she spearheads initiatives that elevate the quality of mathematical education schoolwide from after-school tutoring to mentoring fellow teachers within her department, as well as leading Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings. Her commitment to school improvement is evident through her active roles in various committees, including the Title I Planning Committee, the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team, and the school leadership team. She also sponsors the Homecoming Court and senior play as well as coaches the archery team, an extracurricular activity she introduced to the school as a fun way to build self-esteem and a healthy, competitive spirit within her students. 

Education: Davis earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education with an emphasis in mathematics in 2012 from Mississippi State University and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in mathematics and social studies from Concordia University in 2015.     

More about the Milken Educator Award Journey: "The Future Belongs to the Educated"    

• The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles this June, 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. 
• 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 a specific topic area; and Activating Milken Educators (AME) promotes group collaboration in and across states to tackle pressing educational needs.
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels. 
• 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.    

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 first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school 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.   

---