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Award Notification:  Kendra Borden (RI '15)

Rhode Island ELA Teacher Kendra Borden Wins 2015 Milken Educator Award

"[Teaching] is all I've ever wanted to do," English teacher Kendra Borden tells the crowd at Samuel Slater Junior High, just moments after hearing Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley call Borden's name as Rhode Island's 2015-16 recipient. Borden, who believes that "those doing the talking are doing the learning," encourages group discussions and lets students stand—sometimes even on their desks—during class. Her classroom strategies work: Borden’s students made a 47-point gain in scaled reading scores last year, and schoolwide writing scores increased by 14% during Borden’s two-year leadership with the school’s writing curriculum committee. Watch Borden's surprise award ceremony, where Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Daniel J. McKee, Commissioner of Education Dr. Ken Wagner, Board of Education Chair Barbara Cottam, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien, Pawtucket School Department Superintendent Patti DiCenso, Samuel Slater Junior High School Principal Dr. Jacqueline E. Ash and veteran Milken Educators are on hand to participate in Borden's big moment.