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National Milken Educator Awards Tour Touches Down in Mobile to Surprise Teacher Mary Travis with $25,000

Gilliard Elementary School's beloved fifth grade math and science teacher clinches Alabama's sole 2024-25 Milken Educator Award

January 30, 2025

Santa Monica, Calif.  — Students, staff, dignitaries and media filed into Gilliard Elementary School's gym this morning for an assembly with Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric G. Mackey. Greeted by Gilliard's mascot, affectionately known as "Gilly Gator," the room began to burst at the seams with excitement and spirit. Something big must be happening! Soon afterward, Dr. Mackey calls Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop on stage to reveal the assembly’s ultimate purpose: to announce Mary Travis as Alabama's sole 2024-25 Milken Educator Award recipient! 

Travis, a fifth grade math and science teacher, stepped up to accept her Award adorned in costume – the school's "Gilly Gator" mascot costume, to be exact. In addition to the Award, Travis received an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize and is the 42^nd recipient in Alabama since the state joined the Milken Educator Awards in 1998. 

"What an exceptional presence Mary Travis is in this community," said Bishop, who is also a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator. "From her exciting classroom projects to her remarkable leadership in the school, Mary's positive influence and spirited nature are felt by all. Congratulations, Mary, and welcome to the Milken Educator Network!" 

Today, Travis joins a national network of 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. 

"We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible achievement by one of Alabama's outstanding educators. We have so many teachers who are deserving of recognition; however, the Milken Foundation determines the recipient – surely, a difficult task," Mackey said. "Receiving the prestigious Milken Educator Award is a testament to their unwavering dedication, innovative teaching methods, and profound impact on the lives of their students. This honor shines a spotlight on the exceptional talent and commitment of teachers across our state. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!" 

Outstanding educators like Travis 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 Mary Travis 

Engaging Classroom Activities: Mary Travis ignites an energetic atmosphere at Gilliard Elementary School, where she teaches fifth grade math and science. She fosters students' curiosity to learn by setting high expectations, making lessons relevant to everyday life, and implementing hands-on activities to solve problems. Constantly collaborative, Travis uses whole- and small-group instruction, infuses technology, and encourages students to create interactive visuals to demonstrate their thinking and distill complex concepts. One assignment that sets the room abuzz is the "Volume City Project." Students design their own business (such as a hospital, restaurant, school, or supermarket) or residential buildings by calculating volume proportions, then work together to merge their constructions (and total volume) into a cohesive city. Another project is a math "breakout," where students in one class develop problems to solve, answer keys and secret codes for the other class to crack. The winning students receive a key to a suitcase of prizes. In science, Travis engages students through daily exploration activities, online lab simulations, and science experiments. 

A Trusted Resource: As a math lead teacher, Travis supervises student teachers, mentors new educators, and trains staff on best practices, differentiated instruction, and new technology. She shares data and strategies with colleagues, who seek her guidance as a trusted resource, and opens her lessons for observation in the "Pineapple Room," where teachers exchange strategies for success. Her positive influence is amplified through her role as a Gizmo (instructional tool) district teacher leader, a member of the district's math curriculum writing team, and through professional development presentations for the school and district. As the school’s math team coach, Travis works with students and leads them through competitions. 

Keeping Spirits High: Travis builds relationships with her students and their families using the latest technologies and instructional tools. She is certified in Nearpod and Quizizz and uses apps like Class Dojo and Seesaw to keep parents informed about classroom activities and student progress. Former students and their parents remain connected with Travis beyond their time at Gilliard as lifelong members of "Trav's Tribe." Furthermore, Travis is dedicated to raising school spirit by serving as her school’s mascot, "Gilly Gator." 

Education: Travis earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of South Alabama in 2011. 

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, 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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