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Winona Middle School Principal Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award for Outstanding Leadership and Commitment to Staff and Students

Dr. Johnny Walker becomes first-ever Milken Educator Award recipient in Winona Independent School District

April 02, 2024

Santa Monica, Calif. — Surprise! This morning, Winona Middle School Principal Dr. Johnny Walker unknowingly planned his own career-changing surprise celebration. What began as a visit from Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath took a turn when Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley revealed that the all-school assembly had one additional purpose. In front of cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media, Dr. Walker was presented with the prestigious Milken Educator Award — hailed as the "Oscar of Teaching" — and an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. 

"We commend Dr. Johnny Walker's unwavering support for students and staff, powerful instructional leadership and commitment to excellence at all levels," said Dr. Foley, who is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. "Johnny's contributions have created a positive ripple effect through the school and community he proudly serves. We look forward to the value he will bring to the national Milken Educator Network and the opportunity it affords to broaden his impact." 

Dr. Walker is the first-ever Milken Educator Award recipient in Winona ISD and was completely unaware of his candidacy. The Awards will honor up to 75 recipients across the country in 2023-24 as part of the Milken Family Foundation's Journey to the 3,000^th Milken Educator. 2023-24 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. 

The Milken Educator Award is not intended to honor lifetime achievement. Recipients are recognized early to mid-career for their current achievements and for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future.

"Congratulations to Dr. Johnny Walker for receiving this year's Milken Educator Award. On behalf of the entire state, thank you for investing in our youngest Texans and equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed and achieve their dreams," added Governor Greg Abbott. "Thank you for showing all of us the invaluable role that educators play in our students' lives." 

"Campus culture starts at the top, with a belief that all students can learn and grow at high levels. It's leaders like Dr. Walker - skilled practitioners that directly inject this belief in their campuses - that help make the endeavor of public education so meaningful and worthwhile," said Commissioner Morath. "Dr. Walker's indelible impact on his students and staff has turned belief into reality, transforming Winona Middle School into a place where great things happen. Dr. Walker, I hope this Milken Educator Award serves as a reminder of the appreciation we have for you. Congratulations on this much-deserved recognition!" 

More About Dr. Johnny Walker

Transformative Leadership and Academic Excellence: For Winona Middle School (WMS) Principal Dr. Johnny Walker, supporting students and staff to excel is the No. 1 priority. His expertise in cultivating a positive learning environment for students, teachers and staff stems largely from his experience as a former teacher and assistant principal, where a history of success both inside and outside of the classroom continues to propel him forward as an educator and leader. His student-centered approach, coupled with an emphasis on collaboration and instructional growth, are only a few of the pillars helping him and his team to build a robust school culture. As a respected leader both at WMS and within the Winona Independent School District, Dr. Walker’s meaningful feedback, mentorship and dedication to the success of students and colleagues have contributed to notable results: The school's rating rose from an 'F' during the 2018-19 school year to a 'B' in 2021-22.

Empowering Educators: Skilled in equipping teachers with the tools and resources to maximize student achievement, Dr. Walker sets high expectations throughout WMS, implemented through a partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). With a focus on data-driven methods and relationship-building, Dr. Walker models and shares best practices with his staff. He leads weekly professional development “cluster” meetings, where educators develop effective strategies for enhancing instruction to meet the specific, individual needs of students. The steady guidance he provides to the school instructional leadership team (ILT) of administrators and coaches builds capacity in data, coaching and pedagogy – all to raise student achievement.

Building Community: Dr. Walker understands the importance of teamwork and celebrating wins along the way. Leading with a growth mindset, he inspires colleagues and organizes pep rallies to spotlight academic and athletic achievements. Dr. Walker's reach and positive influence also extend to the greater Winona community where he is active in his church and passionate about serving young people.

Education: Dr. Walker earned his Bachelor of Arts in history from Wiley University in 2012, a Master of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2016 and a Doctorate from The University of Texas at Tyler in 2023.

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 this June, 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) | TikTok (MilkenAward).

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

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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