Vol. 41, No. 67
November 1 , 2007
Another Surprise! Clayton High School Teacher Wins $25,000 Milken Award
When Curtis James took his students to the gym at Clayton High School this afternoon, he thought they were going to hear a pep talk from a state education official.
Along with the entire school, though, James was shocked to learn he had been chosen to receive a 2007 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award – an honor that includes an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.
James received his award from Richard Sandler, executive vice president of the Milken Family Foundation, and another special guest – Governor Matt Blunt – who made an unannounced appearance at the assembly.
James has taught mathematics at Clayton High School (grades 9-12) for 10 years and is in his second year as chair of the math department. He teaches a range of courses including geometry, honors geometry, advanced algebra, integrated mathematics and Advanced Placement calculus.
Colleagues describe James as an exceptional, high-energy teacher who is able to teach advanced mathematics to students of all ability levels and to “connect” with young people from all backgrounds.
He co-developed the curriculum for a class called “informal algebra,” an activity-based course specifically for struggling and special-needs students. He is past president of the Mathematics Educators of Greater St. Louis and has been honored as that group’s “teacher of the year.”
The Milken National Educator Award provides public recognition to teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in education. The program alternates each year between elementary and secondary educators. New recipients are taken completely by surprise during schoolwide assemblies overflowing with proud students, colleagues, an entourage of local and state officials and news media.
“Teachers have the most important jobs in America,” says Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder Lowell Milken. “We entrust them with the enormous responsibility of preparing our young people with the skills, knowledge and experiences needed to be successful in a most challenging 21st century. The Milken Educator Awards say, in a very public way, that greatness in education must be recognized and rewarded.”
Research has shown that the single most important school-based factor driving student performance is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. The most effective teachers produce as much as five times the learning gains of the least effective teachers.
Including this year’s selections, since its inception, the Milken Educator Awards have recognized more than 2,300 educators with more than $58 million. The 2007 recipients will receive their $25,000 checks during the Milken National Education Conference that will be held in Los Angeles next spring.
Missouri has participated in the Milken Educator Award program since 1996, under the coordination of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Two Missouri teachers will be honored in 2007; a total of 39 outstanding educators have been recognized since Missouri joined the national program.
Before an audience of national business, government and education leaders, the newest Milken Educators will be honored at a gala Awards ceremony so spectacular that it has been dubbed by Teacher magazine as “the Oscars of teaching.” They will also join the Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,300 distinguished educators, whose expertise serves as a valuable resource to fellow educators, legislators, school boards and others shaping the future of education.
Award Criteria
Unlike most teaching awards, the Milken Educator Awards have no formal nomination or application process. Educators are recommended for this prestigious honor without their knowledge by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education. Candidates for the awards are selected on the basis of the following criteria:
- Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
- Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession;
- Strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership; and
- Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.
For more information about the Milken Educator Awards and the surprise notification events held throughout the United States, contact the Milken Family Foundation.
CONTACT:JIM MORRIS |