MONTGOMERY, AL – The Milken Family Foundation presented the National Educator Award to Berry Middle School Teacher Dilhani Uswatte. The announcement came during the 23rd annual coast-to-coast tour to reward top educators with more than $1.2 million in cash awards. Mrs. Uswatte never expected the award or the $25,000 check presented with the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, the “Education Oscar.”
The unsuspecting teacher was presented with the 2009 Milken Educator Award at a surprise schoolwide assembly this morning disguised as an event for the state superintendent to commend the school on its student assessment progress and to announce a major education initiative.
Presented by Senior Vice President of Milken Educator Awards Dr. Jane Foley and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton, the award honors the exceptional work of educators as a model for the state and nation. The Milken Family Foundation’s 23rd annual National Notifications Tour is honoring more than 50 outstanding educators and is the nation’s largest teacher recognition program.
“Mrs. Uswatte tells her students that she’s going to make sure they understand the ‘whys’ of math and that ‘no student of hers would just memorize the rules.’ Her classes are always filled with eager students who can’t wait to hear what she has planned for the lesson,” said her principal, Dr. Kathleen A. Wheaton. “She is an excellent teacher and an encouraging, supportive mentor to students, colleagues and student teachers. She is the teacher we want our children and grandchildren to have.”
The entire school gathered in the gymnasium as Dr. Morton disclosed the news that one of their own would receive an unrestricted $25,000 financial reward and an all-expense-paid trip to the annual Milken National Education Conference next year. The 2009 Alabama Milken Educator is a math teacher at Berry Middle School.
“Dilhani Uswatte exemplifies what being a professional educator is all about. She meets the needs of her students and goes the extra mile to do what needs to be done for her students to learn,” Morton said. “She is a shining example of what’s right in Alabama education. Teachers like Mrs. Uswatte are essential to molding and shaping, not only the minds, but the character of our students. She serves as a role model for students and teachers, greatly impacting the lives around her.”
Each year the Milken Family Foundation travels from coast to coast surprising teachers, principals and specialists with $25,000 awards because they are furthering excellence in education. Alabama joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1998 with 25 recipients receiving $625,000 in awards.
Educators are recommended without their knowledge to the Milken Family Foundation by an independent blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education. Awards alternate yearly between elementary and secondary educators. In recognizing these outstanding teachers with $25,000, the Foundation hopes to raise public awareness that high-quality teachers are essential to student achievement. The award was developed to reward, retain and attract the highest quality K-12 teachers.
Uswatte also joins the Milken Educator Network, a nationwide coalition of more than 2,200 top educators who have access to a variety of professional resources to help cultivate and expand innovative programs in their classrooms, schools and districts.
For more information on the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards, visit www.mff.org or the Alabama Department of Education’s Web site at www.alsde.edu.
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