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Fifth Grade Teacher Nancy Chavira Earns a Fabens First: A $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Fabens ISD's Nancy Chavira joins national network working to shape the future of K-12 education

February 07, 2025

Santa Monica, Calif. — Nancy Chavira, a fifth grade math and science lead teacher at Johanna O'Donnell Intermediate School, woke up this morning completely unaware that today’s scheduled assembly with the Texas Education Agency Deputy Commissioner of Operations Alejandro Delgado was actually all about her. In front of cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media, Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley presented Chavira with the Milken Educator Award — and an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. 

Chavira teaches in a 50/50 model classroom where students learn in both Spanish and English. She is the first-ever Milken Educator Award recipient in Fabens ISD history and the 58^th recipient in the Lone Star State since Texas joined the Milken Educator Awards in 2000. 

"Nancy Chavira sets a high bar when it comes to being a role model for young students and fellow colleagues," said Dr. Foley, who is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. "Her unwavering dedication has made a positive impact on her classroom, school and the community. Thank you, Nancy, for encouraging your students to dream big and spark a love of lifelong learning. Congratulations and welcome to the Milken Educator Network of excellence." 

Today Chavira 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. 

"It is an honor to recognize Ms. Chavira and highlight the continuing impact she has on her students and colleagues in Fabens ISD," said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. "Her commitment to setting high expectations for her students helps pave the way for their success, not just in the classroom but throughout life. On behalf of the more than 370,000 public school educators across Texas, congratulations, and thank you for what you do!" 

Outstanding educators like Chavira 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 Nancy Chavira 

A Positive Classroom Presence: Nancy Chavira is the embodiment of perseverance. Prioritizing building students' resiliency both in learning and life, Chavira harnesses her experiences and love of teaching to make a lifelong impact on her fifth grade math and science students at Johanna O'Donnell Intermediate School. Fluent in English and Spanish, she teaches in a 50/50 model classroom with a partner teaching English. Ensuring her students comprehend their math and science lessons on a deep level, Chavira sets high standards and yields consistently high results as a classroom teacher and fifth grade lead teacher. In her spare time, Chavira reads with her students in the classroom. 

Blazing Her Own Path: As the first in the district to obtain a Master Teacher Designation from the Texas Education Agency, she mentors first-year teachers at her school and works with the University of Texas at El Paso's teacher mentor program to host a teacher resident in her classroom. She presents on topics such as Google Classroom setup and effective instructional strategies during professional learning community meetings, is a member of the Texas Computer Education Association, and attends conferences for Sun City EdTech and Texas Association for Bilingual Education. At school, she is a language proficiency assessment committee member, multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) member, University Interscholastic League coach and Destination Imagination coach, leading students to compete at the regional and state levels. Chavira also serves on the district's dual language task force committee. 

Inspiring Well-Rounded Leaders: Outside of the classroom, Chavira serves as the school's yearbook coordinator, is a science fair committee member and has taught fall and summer intersessions. She trains families on how to promote reading instruction at home. Further instilling a sense of community, Chavira's class participates in the annual O'Donnell Christmas Project, working together to build essentials-filled bags for people in Ciudad Juárez. 

Education: Chavira earned her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with an EC-6 bilingual generalist concentration from the University of Texas at El Paso 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 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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