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Petersburg English Teacher Receives One "Spooktacular" Surprise: A $25,000 Milken Educator Award!

Ashley Wilkins' national honor leads to a boo-tiful Halloween celebration at Petersburg High School

October 31, 2023

Santa Monica, Calif. — Today, Petersburg High School is filled with more than Halloween cheer — it's filled with the thundering cheers of students, colleagues, dignitaries and media as they celebrate eighth grade English language arts teacher Ashley Wilkins. At an all-school assembly, Wilkins was surprised with the prestigious Milken Educator Award, a national honor that is often hailed as the "Oscar of Teaching." Jaws dropped when it was revealed that she would also receive an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000 for her remarkable contributions to education both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Stephanie Bishop, vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, was joined by State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt to present Wilkins with the Award on her unforgettable day.

"It is abundantly clear that Ashley Wilkins has forged an unbreakable bond with her students, colleagues and community," said Bishop, who is also a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator. "She is not only strengthening students' understanding and appreciation of rich English language arts curriculum, but is also modeling how to take pride and ownership of their education. Congratulations and welcome to the Milken Educator family, Ashley!" 

Wilkins is among up to 75 recipients across the country this 2023-24 school year who will be awarded as part of the Milken Family Foundation's Journey to the 3,000^th Milken Educator. This season 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. 

"Ashley Wilkins is a true ambassador for the teaching profession," said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. "Her mastery of content and student engagement encourages students to be invested in their learning and explore ways to deepen their English language arts skills and proficiency. She understands the importance of connecting with students and piquing their interests through classroom and instructional strategies. Once this is ignited within the classrooms, students enjoy the challenges you set before them, and they develop higher learning skills. We are fortunate that she is a part of the education community in West Virginia." 

Wilkins was completely unaware of her candidacy. Milken Educator 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 Ashley Wilkins 

Encouraging Active Participation: Eighth grade English language arts teacher Ashley Wilkins has mastered the art of elevating student engagement across Petersburg High School (PHS). She facilitates Socratic Seminars, in which students engage in respectful, high-level discussions on their varying interpretations of classic literature. Using Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," Wilkins guides students through character trials, during which they act as prosecutors and debate whether the main character of the story is guilty, building their presentation skills and curriculum competency. She holds students to high standards, instilling the importance of goal-setting by having eighth graders write letters to their future selves as graduating seniors. Her students show consistent gains in their ELA proficiency, outperforming the state on the General Summative Assessment.

Amplifying Her Knowledge: Wilkins has strengthened her instructional practices as well as supported her colleagues across PHS and Grant County Schools. Her annual technology summit presentations provide professional development for educators countywide, while her membership to the Appalachian Studies Association generated an opportunity for her to present at an international conference in Asheville, North Carolina. She invites colleagues to observe her lessons and is open to constructive feedback. As an eighth grade team leader and student assistance team coordinator, Wilkins organizes team meetings, supports new staff members, and collaborates with teachers and parents to implement student interventions. The PHS leadership team also benefits from her insight on data analysis and the development of strategic plans and effective instructional methods.  

Schoolwide Leadership: An unwavering presence in the PHS community, Wilkins builds strong relationships with students, parents and community members through her role as the junior class sponsor and participation in the Local School Improvement Council. Her coordination of homecoming, prom and other fundraising initiatives promote a positive school culture. Committed to college readiness, Wilkins teaches a dual-credit college English class for PHS students. 

Education: Wilkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in secondary English education and a minor in Appalachian studies in 2017 from Shepherd University, as well as a Master of Science in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University in 2019. In 2023, she earned a graduate certificate of completion in English from Grand Canyon University and a graduate certificate in instructional leadership from West Virginia State University.

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 in June 2024, 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)    

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

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.

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