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Innovation and Leadership Earn Topeka Teacher the $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Educator's creative approach to teaching proves valuable for student learning

Oprah Winfrey congratulates Milken Educators in heartwarming video message as 'light in this world'

April 26, 2022

Topeka, KS  — In a surprise assembly earlier today, Ryan Pfeifer, a high school science teacher at Washburn Rural High School, received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for his alternative approach to science education. He "flips" his classroom so his students use online lectures to explore concepts at home and school time to promote deeper understanding and engage in more hands-on labs. Pfeifer's former students often share that they're ahead of their classmates, an important boost for college-level STEM studies. 

Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop, joined by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, surprised Pfeifer with the honor before cheering students, colleagues, state and local officials, and the media. Pfeifer is one of only two educators in Kansas and among more than 60 nationwide to receive the recognition during the 2021-2022 school year. 

Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," the Milken Educator Awards celebrate, elevate and activate the American teaching profession and inspire young, capable people to join it. 

"Ryan Pfeifer consistently pushes the envelope for himself, his colleagues and his students to motivate and encourage them to find the best version of themselves," said Bishop, who herself is a 2001 Milken Educator from Virginia. "Whether it’s a new approach to science labs or the willingness to start a pole vault program from scratch, Ryan is not only an educator, he is an inspirational leader for his community. We are excited to welcome him into the Milken Educator Network." 

The Milken Educator Award is not a lifetime achievement honor. Recipients are heralded while early to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities inherent in the Award. 

"We couldn't be more excited to honor Ryan," said Commissioner Watson. "His commitment to student learning and innovation in the classroom are what make him so deserving of this recognition." 

Oprah, a longtime education advocate, shared her congratulations to this year's winners in a video message shared earlier this year thanking "the most incredible educators around the country" and acknowledging her deep appreciation for the "tireless work" they do. 

More about Ryan Pfeifer   

Willing to Try New Strategies: Pfeifer is always open to new teaching strategies if there's a chance they might increase student achievement. When Pfeifer surveyed former students, they told him that high school hadn't prepared them as well as they'd hoped for college science classes, especially the online learning components. As a result, Pfeifer decided to "flip" his Honors Biology course, creating online lectures and resources for students to explore at home, then using class time on new activities to apply the concepts and promote deeper understanding. 

Innovation Pays Off: The process of flipping his classroom took two years to plan and implement. Despite initial hesitancy from both pupils and parents, the experiment succeeded, with a 5-6% increase on assessments compared with prior years. Pfeifer has continued to hone his flipped instruction to maximize efficiency and impact, expanding it to his International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology class, where students now perform above worldwide averages on IB assessments. Seeing Pfeifer's success, other science teachers at Washburn Rural have adopted the flipped-classroom approach. 

Leader in Education: As chair of Washburn Rural's science department, Pfeifer led curriculum changes to align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and added new courses, including Forensic Science, AP Environmental Science, and Environmental Resources and Wildlife Science. All classes include lab-based, practical application strategies that incorporate NGSS practices. Now, former students often return to report that they are ahead of their peers in lab skills, an important leg up for college STEM classes. Pfeifer shares his knowledge freely with colleagues and has delivered professional development on the flipped classroom, educational technology and Webb's Depth of Knowledge. During the pandemic, Pfeifer explored various online learning platforms, researched instructional approaches for online instruction, and introduced Canvas to fellow teachers to help smooth the transition to virtual classrooms. 

Motivates Students to Achieve: Pfeifer sets high expectations and pushes students to better themselves each day. He wants all students at Washburn to succeed, not just his own. Pfeifer gave up his advisory period to become an interventionist, ready to help any student who needs extra support in life sciences. He meets with referred students daily to reteach concepts they struggle with and evaluate their understanding. Thanks to Pfeifer, numerous Washburn Rural students have caught up and are thriving in their science classes. He serves as an adviser for students' long-term science research papers, an IB graduation requirement. Outside the classroom, Pfeifer is the vault coach on Washburn Rural's track and field team. He built the pole vault program over several years, starting with athletes who could barely make it down the runway holding a pole, and ultimately leading the team to multiple medals at state championships. 

Education: Pfeifer earned a bachelor's in biology education in 2011 from Kansas State University and a master's in education in 2013 from Baker University. 

More information about Pfeifer, plus links to photos and video from today's assembly, can be found on the Milken Educator Awards website at: https://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/educators/view/ryan-pfeifer.  

More about the Milken Educator Awards: "The future belongs to the educated."

Along with the financial prize, Milken Educator Award recipients join the national Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,800 top teachers, principals and specialists. The network serves as a rich resource for fellow educators, legislators, school boards and others dedicated to excellence in education.

• In June, the honorees will also attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to increase their impact on K-12 education. In addition, they will learn about how to become involved in the Milken Friends Forever (MFFs) mentoring program, in which freshman Milken Educators receive personalized coaching and support from a Milken Educator veteran on ways to elevate their instructional practice and take an active role in educational leadership, policy and practice.
• Over the years, more than $140 million in funding, including $70 million for the individual cash awards, has been devoted to the overall Milken Awards initiative, which includes powerful professional development opportunities throughout recipients' careers. 
• Veteran Milken Educators frequently go on to serve in leadership roles at state, national and international levels. 
• "We find you. You don't find us!" Unlike most teacher recognition programs, the Milken Educator Awards initiative has no formal nomination or application process. Candidates are sourced through a confidential selection process and then reviewed by blue ribbon panels in each state. The most exceptional candidates are recommended for the award, with final selection made by the Milken Family Foundation. 
• The $25,000 cash award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. For instance, some have spent the funds on their children's or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children. 

To get regular updates on the surprise Milken Educator Award events or to watch the award events unfold, follow and use the #MilkenAward hashtag on Facebook (@MilkenEducatorAwards), Twitter (@Milken), YouTube (/MilkenAward), Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn), and TikTok (@MilkenAward).

For more information, visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772. 

About the Milken Educator Awards
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. 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 initiative was created by the Milken Family Foundation, which celebrates 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

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