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Surprise! Norwich Teacher Jessica Chapman Becomes Nation's Next Milken Educator

Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker joins Milken Family Foundation's Dr. Jane Foley to present "Oscar of Teaching"

November 12, 2024

Norwich, Conn. — It was a morning full of surprises for Norwich Free Academy social studies teacher Jessica Chapman when a schoolwide assembly suddenly shifted gears. All eyes focused on Chapman as Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley, joined by Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, invited her to come to the front of the gymnasium. Students, educators, dignitaries and media cheered as Dr. Foley announced the news – Chapman had been selected as the nation's next recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award, which comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize! Chapman is the only teacher in Connecticut selected for the honor this school year. 

"Jessica Chapman has adeptly woven her personal and professional experiences to form a beautiful tapestry of dedication and service to her colleagues, students and her community," said Dr. Foley, who is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. "Her nurturing, inquisitive spirit encourages students to expand their horizons, and her leadership and mentorship are gifts to her peers and to Norwich Free Academy's mission of developing global citizens. We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to the Milken Educator Network!" 

"The Milken Educator Award shines a spotlight on remarkable educators whose dedication and innovation elevate our entire education community," said Commissioner Russell-Tucker. "Jessica Chapman's commitment to making learning accessible, inspiring students to reach for their dreams, and fostering a true sense of global citizenship in her classroom is exemplary and deserving of this honor. Congratulations, Jessica." 

Up to 45 educators coast to coast will be honored with the Milken Educator Award in 2024-25. Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," the Milken Educator Awards continue to inspire educators, students and entire communities to "Celebrate, Elevate and Activate" the K-12 teaching profession and encourages young, capable people to consider a career in education. This season will reach more than $75 million in individual cash prizes since the Awards' inception in 1987 and over $145 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall. 

Outstanding educators like Chapman 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 Jessica Chapman 

Turning Students into Global Citizens: Chapman makes learning exciting and accessible for all students in her social studies classroom. Norwich Free Academy (NFA) is home to a diverse student body, representing over 30 different primary languages spoken at home and 9 percent of students born outside of the U.S. Many of Chapman's students are new to the country and/or have experienced some level of interrupted learning. Chapman differentiates instruction masterfully to reach beginning multilingual learners (ML) and seniors earning college credit alike. Students explore sociology, modern world history, and global studies and citizenship with the rigor of college-level expectations. Through project-based learning, scholarly research, writing strategies, policy proposals, and high-level discourse, Chapman creates a nurturing classroom environment and sparks in students a curiosity and inquiry about their place in the world and how to hone their responsibility as global citizens. 

Inspiring Secondary Education Through Hands-On Learning: Enrollment in Chapman's college preparatory sociology course doubled thanks to her new curriculum that allows dual-enrollment students to earn college credit through the University of Connecticut's Early College Experience program. Several students no longer see college as a "pipe dream," but well within their grasp. Chapman's peers benefit from her commitment to the school where she serves as a teacher mentor, student teacher supervisor, PLC leader for senior electives, ML summer academy leader, and professional development coach. Harnessing her experiences teaching in El Salvador for a year, Chapman developed an educational workshop for her colleagues on navigating the arrival of new students from Central America, and how to better serve expanding populations of learners. 

Embodies True Teacher-Leader Spirit: Chapman continues to lead outside the walls of her classroom; she serves as a senior class advisor and organizes milestone activities like a class trip, prom and graduation; coaches the varsity girls golf team; and develops mental health, sportsmanship and collegiate athletic programming for the Varsity N club as a co-advisor. 

Education: Chapman completed her Bachelor of Arts in history and social science in 2011 from Eastern Connecticut State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Sacred Heart University in 2013, and a Sixth-Year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University in 2024. 

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 in April 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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