Press Releases    All Press Releases

Philadelphia, Mississippi, Teacher Honored with National Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash Prize for Engaging, Experiential Math and Science Instruction

Neshoba Central Elementary's Kristien Long surprised during nationwide tour recognizing outstanding educators for commitment to excellence

January 10, 2024

Philadelphia, Miss. — Kristien "Krissy" Long initially believed she was attending an all-school assembly to celebrate Neshoba Central Elementary's A rating, with Interim State Superintendent of Education Dr. Raymond C. Morgigno commending the achievement. Instead she received a heartwarming surprise when she realized the gathering was also for her. Long was presented with the Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national honor recognizing exceptional educators for excellence and innovation in education. Bestowed by the Milken Family Foundation during a coast-to-coast tour, the Award includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that recipients may use however they choose. Long becomes the second recipient from Mississippi this season as she joins Jennifer Hite of Pearl, who was surprised earlier today.    

"Krissy Long is a beacon of inspiration for her students and illuminates a path to excellence for them through her immense dedication and creativity," said Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop, who is a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator herself. "Her inspiring instructional practices, unwavering commitment to her students, school and community, and seamless integration of real-world applications into her math and science curriculum are some of the ways she personifies the qualities of a Milken Educator. Today we celebrate her and welcome her to our national network. Congratulations, Krissy!"  

Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," 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 Mississippi Department of Education congratulates Kristien Long for earning this national award that recognizes her innovative approach to teaching math and science at Neshoba Central Elementary," said Dr. Morgigno. "Her leadership, both in and outside the classroom, truly sets a standard for excellence in education."   

More About Kristien Long 

Unlocking Learning with an Immersive Approach: Long employs a hands-on approach in her classroom that makes learning an immersive, engaging experience for her fifth grade math and science students at Neshoba Central Elementary. By exploring the 'why' behind each problem, her students not only understand the concepts, but also grasp their practical applications, improving their overall retention of new material. Long goes beyond conventional teaching methods by integrating her lessons into real-life scenarios like using the menu at a local Mexican restaurant to compute the bill, and creating videos on her YouTube channel for students and their parents to better understand the steps to solve a math or science problem.

Creativity Bolsters Students' Investment in Education: Students strive to meet the high standards Long maintains for them and can track their progress through her daily use of Classroom Dojo, a program that provides a motivational framework and allows students to accumulate points through classroom cooperation and successfully meeting their goals. This dynamic approach to measuring achievement instills a sense of accomplishment and enthusiasm, and Long includes an end-of-the-semester auction with a trained auctioneer allowing students to bid on and "buy" items with their accrued points. Long wholly embraces technology and innovative instructional practices, and as an early adopter of Google Classroom, she played a pivotal role in facilitating the seamless integration of the program at the school.

Multi-faceted Leadership: A leader who is committed to educational excellence outside of Neshoba Central, Long's impact can be seen in the professional development workshops she leads for both new and veteran educators, sharing her expertise and best practices at state conferences and district teacher advisory committees, as well as in videos she produces that address standards and provide resources to support academic success. Additionally, she serves as the math chairperson, orchestrating weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings and vertical alignment sessions. This ensures a seamless educational experience for students as they progress through their academic journey.  

Education: Long earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 2016 from Mississippi State University and a Master of Education in educational leadership from Mississippi College 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.      

---