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Fantastic First Grade Teacher Receives $25,000 Milken Educator Award Surprise in Washington, Illinois

Lincoln Grade School's Jessica Wentz earns first-ever Milken Educator Award in district history at the school she attended herself

January 17, 2025

Santa Monica, Calif. — Today's morning assembly at Lincoln Grade School led to an unexpected, life-changing surprise for one outstanding educator. Helmed by Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders, the assembly headed in a new direction when special guest Jennifer Fuller, Milken Educator Awards vice president, took to the mic. With an eccentric crowd of students, colleagues, dignitaries, media, and State Board of Education Chair and Milken Educator (IL '97) Dr. Steven Isoye looking on, Fuller presented first grade teacher Jessica Wentz with a Milken Educator Award! 

A Lincoln Grade School graduate, Wentz is now making a daily impact in the very school that prepared her well for the future. She is the sole 2024-25 Milken Educator Award recipient for Illinois, and the first-ever recipient in Washington Grade School District #52 history. Illinois joined the Milken Educator Awards in 1988, making Wentz the 113^th recipient in the state to receive the prestigious Award and unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. 

"Jessica Wentz instills a love of learning in every endeavor, from classroom teaching to mentoring others," said Fuller, who is a 2017 Texas Milken Educator herself. "Leading engaging opportunities and interactive lessons for students, she is capturing their interest in education at a young age, setting the stage for bright futures. Her leadership on school committees and her strong relationships with peers, students' families and community members demonstrate her indelible, broad impact. Congratulations, Jessica. Your passion and commitment to the craft will make you a valuable member of the national Milken Educator Network." 

Today, Wentz 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. 

"Jessica Wentz embodies the very best of what it means to be an educator," said State Superintendent Sanders. "Her creativity, dedication, and passion for her students make learning an exciting adventure and a transformative experience. Whether hosting 'Adjective Runway,' an engaging ELA activity, or leading the 'Hulk Smash' math game, Jessica turns her classroom into a space where young learners thrive. Teachers like Jessica remind us of the profound impact this profession has on shaping futures and changing lives." 

Outstanding educators like Wentz 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 Wentz 

Lively Learning Environment: When Jessica Wentz was a student at Lincoln Grade School, she likely never imagined that one day she would return to inspire and guide young minds, just as her favorite teachers had done for her. Today, this first grade teacher is seen as a leader at the school, encouraging and inspiring young learners and fellow educators alike. Wentz finds ways to make learning fun for her students, hosting "Adjective Runway," a fashion show during which children dress up and walk the classroom's red carpet while their peers use adjectives to describe their classmates' costumes. She also organizes a "Hulk Smash" math game to teach data and graphing, and records books for students to enjoy while on school breaks. Her commitment to education through adventure is yielding positive results for her students. Last year, her students’ reading proficiency jumped from 45% in the fall to 94% by year's end. 

Data-Informed Instruction: She pairs her love of teaching with a love of data, using intensive science-based reading training like LETRS to analyze student growth areas, adjust classroom practices and guide colleagues through curriculum decisions to achieve greater academic success for all of Lincoln's young students. Last year, a new reading fluency routine for students Wentz helped create resulted in significant improvement across the grade level. 

A Strong Leader and Mentor: Wentz's commitment to her school goes beyond her classroom. She serves on multiple committees, including the school improvement committee, math curriculum committee, and strategic planning committee. Wentz is also the first grade lead teacher and mentors new teachers. She is a fixture in the community for parents and students alike. She can regularly be found at student performances and school functions in the community. Maintaining a strong relationship with families, she shares daily student highlights and mini-lessons on the SeeSaw app to communicate with parents and provide home support for their children throughout the school year. 

Education: Wentz earned her Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Illinois State University in 2011 and Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University in 2015. 

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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