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Washington, D.C., Educator Receives the Surprise of a Lifetime: a $25,000 Milken Educator Award!

Ariel Horton honored nationally for her next-level leadership at DCPS' Noyes Elementary School

March 06, 2025

Santa Monica, Calif. — Noyes Elementary School burst into applause this morning as an all-school assembly with Interim State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell quickly turned into a welcome surprise for one outstanding educator. When Dr. Mitchell introduced a special guest, heads turned as Milken Family Foundation President and Co-Founder Mike Milken presented Ariel Horton, assistant principal and math coach, with the sole 2024-25 Milken Educator Award for Washington, D.C. 

Bestowed by the Milken Family Foundation, the Milken Educator Award comes with a $25,000 cash prize recipients can use however they choose. Horton will also receive lifetime membership to the national Milken Educator Network and an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles for the Milken Educator Awards Forum April 1-3. Horton is the 18^th recipient since D.C. joined the Awards initiative in 2003. 

"Outstanding educators like Ariel Horton not only change lives, but also change the world," said Mike Milken. "As a teacher, coach and school leader, Ariel is dedicated to ensuring that everyone at Noyes Elementary is put on a path to success. We commend her for the positive impact she has made on every corner of the campus, and welcome her into the Milken Educator Network. Congratulations." 

Today Horton 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. 

"Exceptional educators like Ariel Horton are the heart of our schools and the foundation of student success in the District of Columbia. Her dedication, leadership, and passion for education exemplify the excellence we strive for in our school communities," said Interim State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. "We are grateful for the impact she has on students, staff, and families at Noyes Elementary School and incredibly proud of this well-deserved recognition through the Milken Educator Award. Congratulations, Assistant Principal Horton!" 

Milken Educators 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 Ariel Horton 

Advancing from Classroom Teacher to Instructional School Leader: At DCPS' Noyes Elementary School, Ariel Horton serves students and colleagues alike as assistant principal and math coach. Before assuming her current roles in June 2024, Horton spent more than a decade at Noyes as a kindergarten math and science teacher and math coach. A self-proclaimed "teacher's teacher," Horton works alongside her colleagues to develop and model effective instructional strategies, analyze data, and coordinate the academic supports students need to reach their full potential. 

Supporting Students and Educators Every Step of the Way: As a valued member of the Academic Leadership Team, Horton has been integral to the development of Noyes' Comprehensive School Plan (CSP) and to monitoring progress toward accomplishing its goals. The plan outlines key goals, the priority behind each goal, and specific action steps to make them a reality. As Noyes' math coach, Horton leads weekly, collaborative professional development meetings and plans classroom lessons based on thorough review of data and student work. She complements the meetings with teacher observations, actionable feedback and modeling to ensure effective transfer of the learning to the classroom. She also serves on the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) team to address specific areas of need, and is K-2 math facilitator at DCPS' professional development days throughout the school year and during the summer. 

Demonstrating Exemplary Commitment to the School and Broader Community: In addition to her constant presence in classrooms, Horton – who has been PTO president for the past two years – has organized spirited events involving students and families. These include curating "Trunk or Treat," attracting more than 80 people; recruiting parents to volunteer for school activities such as Picture Day and school dances; working as a math expert on the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to plan the Haunted Math House during Fall Festival; and developing a parent wellness session. Horton's good deeds are demonstrated by her dedication to community service and to building students as productive, young citizens. She partnered with the Girl Scouts to bring the first Brownie/Daisy troop to Noyes, worked with local organizations to have a supply of detergent for washing students' clothes, and held school fundraising activities to stock the food pantry. Horton also partners with organizations, such as Purpose for Life, Inc., and District Motherhued, to secure STEM-based toys for students through an annual Christmas toy drive. 

Education: A two-time graduate of Howard University, Horton earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2011 and her Master of Arts in education in 2012. 

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 April 1-3, 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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