Videos All Videos
Award Notification: Melanie Cole (PA '17)
Slippery Rock Area High School
Melanie Cole Joins PA Milken Educators
A Halloween surprise: On October 31, 2017, Dr. Jane Foley named Melanie Cole Pennsylvania's 2017-18 Milken Educator Award recipient at Slippery Rock Area High School in front of a roaring crowd packed with students, staff and visiting dignitaries. A special education teacher and transition coordinator, Melanie is known as a fierce advocate for her students, helping them connect with local businesses, post-secondary educational opportunities and military personnel to launch them into the world after high school.
Veteran Milken Educators gave Melanie a very warm welcome to the family. Jayda Pugliese (PA '16) drove seven hours each way to be there and said she fought back tears during the entire assembly: "I thought I was going to cry before [Melanie] did!"