MONTGOMERY, AL – Today in Birmingham, Alabama, the Milken Family Foundation presented the National Educator Award to Hillview Elementary School Teacher Jennifer Edwards. The announcement came during the 24th annual coast-to-coast tour to reward top educators with more than $1.3 million in cash awards. Edwards never expected the award or the $25,000 check presented with the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, the “Education Oscar.”
The unsuspecting 3rd grade teacher from the Jefferson County School System was presented with the 2010 Milken Educator Award at a surprise schoolwide assembly disguised as an event for Dr. Joe Morton, State Superintendent of Education, to commend the school on its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) achievement.
Presented by Senior Vice President of Milken Educator Awards Dr. Jane Foley and Dr. Morton, the award honors the exceptional work of educators as a model for the state and nation. The Milken Family Foundation’s 24th annual National Notifications Tour is honoring more than 50 outstanding educators and is the nation’s largest teacher recognition program.
The “Education Oscar” recognizes teacher-leaders in the early to middle part of their careers who are innovative and effective. There is a rigorous and confidential selection process. Teachers cannot apply for the award. “You don’t find us,” explained Dr. Foley. “We find you.”
The entire school gathered in the gymnasium to hear the extraordinary 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.
Dr. Morton praised Alabama’s 2010 Milken Educator: “Mrs. Edwards is a dedicated professional educator. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and was Jefferson County’s Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010. She inspires her young students to want to learn and to be successful. She is respected by her peers who describe her as the type of teacher you would want for your own child. I am privileged to be here today at Hillview Elementary to help present this prestigious award to Jennifer Edwards - another exemplary Alabama teacher - and Alabama’s 2010 Milken Educator.”
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. Since Alabama joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1998, 28 Alabama educators have received the “Education Oscar” and a total of $700,000.
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.
Edwards joins the Milken Educator Network, a nationwide coalition of more than 2,500 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 website at www.alsde.edu.
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