Milken Educator Award

Milken Educator Awards
Abbreviation MEA
Motto The Future Belongs to the Educated
Formation 1985-87
Type Nonprofit Organization
Legal status Foundation Award Program
Purpose To celebrate, elevate and activate the teaching profession
Headquarters Santa Monica
Location
  • California
Region served
United States
Membership
Over 2,600
Official language
English
Executive Director
Lowell Milken, Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder
Parent organization
Milken Family Foundation
Website www.milkeneducatorawards.org

The Milken Educator Awards is an educator recognition program in the United States that provides unrestricted grants of $25,000 cash to teachers deemed successful, in surprise ceremonies. Established in 1985 and first presented in 1987, the initiative of the Milken Family Foundation has traveled to schools across the United States presenting awards to over 2,600 teachers, averaging around 30-40 teachers per year.[1] Teacher Magazine nicknamed the program the "Oscars of Teaching." [2] The award currently gives $25,000 in unrestricted funds to teachers who are early in their career, or mid-career, to reward them "for what they have achieved—and for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future."[3] Recipients are ambushed at school assemblies or other public events to be publicly celebrated with the surprise announcement of the awards.[4] For example, in January 2016, a Hawaii high school science teacher was "shocked" to receive the award, given at a school-wide assembly.[5]

History

Since its founding and first award presentation, the Milken Educator Awards has recognized over 2,600 teachers with awards that include an individual, unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.[6] Through the program, the Milken Family Foundation has awarded over 64 million dollars to the award recipients.[7]

Selection Process

There is no nomination process to be considered for the Milken Educator Award. Candidates are confidentially recommended to the Foundation by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education.[8]

Qualifications

Based on guidelines established by the Foundation, participating states’ departments of education appoint blue-ribbon committees that recommend candidates for selection. Identification and selection procedures are confidential, and the program does not include a formal nomination or application procedure.The criteria for the selection of outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and other education professionals as Milken Educators include all of the following:

Program Goals

The goals of the Milken Educator Awards are:

References

  1. "City College Teacher Wins National Educator Award". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  2. "Beloved Teacher Wins National Award". The Olympian. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
  3. "Milkin Educator Awards". Retrieved July 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. "About Milken Educator Awards". Milken Educator Awards. Recipients are caught by surprise when their names are announced at emotional all-school assemblies in front of cheering students, proud colleagues, distinguished officials and the media.
  5. "Waipahu High School science teacher receives Milken Educator Award". KHON-TV. January 29, 2016.
  6. Ohio Department of Education
  7. "Bear Creek High School Surprised with Milken Educator Award". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  8. Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
  9. "Milken Educator Awards Criteria for Selection".
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