By Staff
special to The Star
October 2, 2004
JACKSON They don't know it yet, but some of America's best educators, including two in Mississippi, are about to hit the jackpot.
The Milken National Educator Awards were created in 1985 to reward, retain and attract the highest caliber professionals to the nation's schools. One hundred unsuspecting educators across the country will be surprised with the news of their $25,000 awards, which can be used any way they choose, during school-wide assemblies attended by state and local officials, students, peers and community leaders.
Education pioneer Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation, created the awards to celebrate the efforts of outstanding teachers, principals and specialists in K-12 education. Under his leadership, the Milken National Educator Awards has become the largest teacher recognition program in the United States.
Educators are recommended for the honor without their knowledge by a panel appointed by each state's department of education.
Recipients are presented with their $25,000 awards at the annual Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference, an all-expenses-paid professional development conference held in Washington, D.C.
They also join the Milken Educator Network, a coalition of more than 2,000 top educators who serve both as expert resources and collaborators to network members as they help cultivate and expand innovative programs in their classrooms, schools and districts.
For more information about the Milken National Educator Awards call the Mississippi Department of Education at (601) 359-3706. Awards information can also be found on the Foundation's Website at www.mff.org.