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Phoenix Principal Jeff Martin Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Clarendon Elementary School instructional leader joins national network of over 3,000 professionals working to shape the future of American K-12 education

February 04, 2025

Santa Monica, Calif. — The Clarendon Elementary School Cougars went wild when an all-school assembly became an all-star celebration for their fearless, faithful leader Jeff Martin. 

Dr. Joshua Barnett – representing the Milken Family Foundation as CEO of the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching –and Arizona Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Margaret Garcia Dugan presented Martin with a national Milken Educator Award, which comes with an individual cash prize of $25,000 that Martin can use however he chooses. Cheering students, proud colleagues, dignitaries and media attended in force for the celebration. Martin is the 45^th recipient in Arizona and the state's sole educator to receive the prestigious honor for the 2024-25 season. 

"Every conversation at Clarendon centers around academic growth," said Dr. Barnett. "Principal Jeff Martin leads with purpose, passion, and a deep appreciation of lifelong learning. We commend Jeff on the outstanding results achieved and the positive culture he has built for all to thrive. As a Milken Educator, he will have a powerful platform to reach even greater heights. Congratulations!" 

Today, Martin joins 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. 

"There is no such thing as a great school without a truly talented and dedicated principal," said Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. "Arizona salutes Jeff Martin for his exceptional service to his students, staff and local community and congratulates him on this prestigious Milken Educator Award." 

Outstanding educators like Martin 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 Jeff Martin 

A Strong Instructional Leader: Principal Jeff Martin models best practices for his staff and students at Clarendon Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona. As a former ELA middle school teacher, he understands the responsibilities of his teachers in their classroom every day and works tirelessly to put both educators and students at the heart of everything he does. Martin is so committed to hands-on leadership that he selects a classroom to teach during the first quarter of each school year to ensure he remains in touch with the students' and teachers' needs. 

Hands-on, Data-driven Approach Yields Positive Results: Martin is a highly engaged leader with a focus on strong staff collaboration. Through the district's implementation of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching's (NIET) systems for educator excellence, leadership and professional growth, Martin works with master and mentor teachers to outline school goals each year, attends weekly department and PLC (Professional Learning Community) meetings, and leads weekly meetings with new teachers throughout the school year. His active involvement, data-driven approach, and positive support to colleagues and students alike have contributed to Clarendon's high retention of outstanding teachers, a jump from a C to a bonified B state rating, and the receipt of the Arizona Educational Foundation's A+ School of Excellence Award. 

Powerful Community Role Model: Martin's enthusiasm extends to the community where he revamped the school PTO, started Bring Your Special Person to School Day, increased the school's social media presence to improve parent-school communication, and is a regular presence at community events. He is often invited by the district to participate in policy discussions, and was selected to present at Arizona's ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Conference with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) on the impact of building instructional leadership teams in schools. 

Education: Martin completed a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University in 2011. At Arizona State University, he earned a Master of Arts in secondary education (2013) and a Master of Arts in educational leadership (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 this April, 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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