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Fort Collins Assistant Principal Earns Colorado’s Only Milken Educator Award This Season … Plus a $25,000 Surprise!

Chris Reynolds' dedication to instructional leadership at Liberty Common High School attracts national recognition

March 07, 2025

Santa Monica, Calif. — Out of the 3.5 million educators across America and tens of thousands in Colorado, the national spotlight shines brightly on one talented educator today: Chris Reynolds. As the seventh through twelfth grade assistant principal at Liberty Common High School in Fort Collins, Reynolds began the morning unaware that the scheduled assembly with Colorado Commissioner of Education Susana Córdova would hold any surprises. But when Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley took the stage, Reynolds' life changed forever as the newest national Milken Educator Award recipient. 

Reynolds received the Milken Educator Award and an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize in front of cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media. He balances his work as assistant principal and an AP Microeconomics teacher at LCHS, making his daily impact on student's lives immeasurable. Reynolds is Colorado's 95^th recipient and the sole honoree for 2024-25 since the Centennial State joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1989. 

"Chris Reynolds helps maintain a culture of excellence at all levels at Liberty Common," said Dr. Foley, who is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. "Chris' dedication to academic rigor, instructional leadership and support, and family involvement unify the community around success for all. Chris, thank you for setting an impressive example for students and educators alike. Congratulations, and welcome to the Milken Educator family!" 

Today Reynolds 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. 

"We are grateful to the Milken Family Foundation for recognizing Colorado's exceptional educators and proud to celebrate Chris Reynolds' commitment to excellence in teaching and learning," said Commissioner Córdova. 

Outstanding educators like Reynolds 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 Chris Reynolds 

Leading by Example: Chris Reynolds harnesses his studies and experiences with philosophy, history and economics to go above and beyond for his students and staff at Liberty Common High School (LCHS). In his dual role as assistant principal and AP Microeconomics teacher, Reynolds created a new, rigorous capstone senior-level course with the opportunity to earn AP or concurrent enrollment credit. Many of his students choose to pursue college degrees and careers in economics. 

Setting Students Up for Success: Reynolds is a valued teacher leader and former athletic director and classroom social studies teacher. His understanding of the unique needs of teachers and students helps him design relevant curriculum, create individualized schedules, and advise students. Reynolds' dedication to student success is evident in coaching Liberty Common's cross-country team, meeting one-on-one with all new students and their families, providing academic advising to high schoolers, and counseling graduating seniors about meeting graduation requirements and earning their diploma. As part of the administrative team, Reynolds leads the weekly STAT (Student Teacher Assistance Team) meetings, sits on the academic advisory committee, serves on the junior high school expansion committee, observes teachers, and speaks at various events and conferences, including the school's "Festival of Ideas." 

Inspiring Excellence: Reynolds' focus on well-constructed, research-grounded curriculum influences LCHS courses from economics to physical education, where he volunteered to lead a schoolwide committee to reimagine the PE curriculum. His leadership both in the classroom and school have produced high student achievement, a dramatic growth in AP achievement and graduation rates, and effective preparation for college, career, and life. 

Education: Reynolds earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and philosophy from Colorado State University in 2007 and a Master of Arts in economics and entrepreneurship from the University of Delaware in 2019. 

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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