Press Releases    All Press Releases

Surprise $25,000 Milken Educator Award Brings National Recognition to Birmingham Educator

International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator Korri Cunningham earns prestigious Award for inspiring students and teachers alike at John Herbert Phillips Academy

October 25, 2023

Santa Monica, Calif. — The energy at John Herbert Phillips Academy was electric this morning as a routine assembly quickly turned into a surprise celebration for one of the school's outstanding educators. IB Coordinator Korri Cunningham was surrounded by cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media when she was surprised with the life-changing Milken Educator Award — along with a $25,000 financial prize she can use however she chooses. 

Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop was joined by Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric G. Mackey to surprise Cunningham with the prestigious Award — often hailed as the "Oscar of Teaching." 

Since starting at Phillips Academy in 2015, Cunningham has been dedicated to upholding excellence in education every step of the way through her transition from an ELA teacher, to an instructional coach, to an IB coordinator. Her unique skill sets working with teachers and students – combined with her longer lens on school goals – have equipped her with the tools and resources necessary in her current role.  

"Korri Cunningham's remarkable leadership, resourcefulness and ability to build solid relationships have made her a trusted, respected leader in the school and district," said Bishop, who is also a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator. "I am honored to welcome Korri to the Milken Educator Network, and to celebrate both her achievements today and potential to positively impact the profession for decades to come."  

Cunningham, the sole Alabama recipient this season, is among up to 75 recipients across the country this school year who will be awarded as part of the Milken Family Foundation's Journey to the 3,000^th Milken Educator. This season 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. 

Cunningham was completely unaware of her candidacy for the Award. Milken Educator 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. 

"Now more than ever, it is important to have the very best and brightest teachers in our classrooms to help prepare our students for life and adulthood. It is evident that Mrs. Korri Cunningham goes above and beyond what is required of her to empower students and help them reach their highest potential," Dr. Mackey said. "It's teachers like Mrs. Cunningham who make a difference inside Alabama classrooms and throughout our communities. We are proud to say she is an Alabama public school teacher!" 

More about Korri Cunningham 

Providing Schoolwide Support: As an IB Coordinator, Korri Cunningham is a role model to colleagues and students alike at John Herbert Phillips Academy (JHPA). A former English language arts teacher and instructional coach, Cunningham draws from her classroom experience to further student success at JHPA. She frequently assisted other teachers in her time as an instructional coach through lesson modeling, observation, mentorship, and demonstrations on best practices. 

Driving Results: Cunningham has taken extra steps to further her own instructional knowledge by becoming a trained teacher consultant through the Red Mountain Writing Project as well as completing IB curriculum training and spearheading IB coordination at JHPA. Her implementation of the IB curriculum portfolio project empowers students to explore a range of cultures and principles through their analysis of classic novels and short stories. This project played a key role in securing JHPA's IB World School renewal. Cunningham’s support both inside and outside of the classroom has contributed to JHPA's state A rating, while her use of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) process has been instrumental to building schoolwide climate and culture.

Elevating Instruction: Cunningham provides her colleagues with a variety of resources to support implementation of state curriculum standards. She has amplified her knowledge by leading professional development on literacy instructional strategies, motivating educators districtwide to further their teaching practices. Other notable school and district leadership roles include Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB coordinator, district reading curriculum review team member, and advisor to JHPA's National Junior Honor Society. Cunningham also assists the JHPA administration team with curriculum and operational preparations, ensuring a smooth back-to-school transition for students and staff.

Education: Cunningham earned an Associate of Art in English from Lawson State Community College in 2011, a Bachelor of Science in secondary education-English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2015, and a Master of Education in instructional leadership from the University of West Alabama in 2021.

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 in June 2024, 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. View the MEA MEDIA KIT online.

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.

---