The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award 

2018 Milken Educator Award Winner - Michelle Johnson

Third-grade ESL teacher Michelle Johnson (RI '18) got the surprise of a lifetime this morning at Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School in Providence, Rhode Island. "I'm at a loss for words, and everyone who knows me knows that NEVER happens—this is crazy!" said Michelle when Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, handed her the microphone. Local and state dignitaries were on hand to congratulate Rhode Island's newest Milken Educator, including Rhode Island Commissioner of Education Dr. Ken Wagner and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.

At the end of every school year, Ms. Johnson throws a party for students and families. Over pizza and juice, pupils and their parents watch a celebratory slideshow and pore over folders of drawings, papers and projects. The teacher leads a sheltered-instruction class of English language learners, so the room buzzes with conversation in at least eight different languages. She celebrates every student’s growth, no matter the starting point, and children make great strides in her classroom: While 100% of her 26 students began last year below grade level on Lexia Reading assessments, all reached grade-level benchmarks by the end of the year, and 40% scored even higher.

The award, from the Milken Family Foundation, carries an unrestricted cash award of $25,000.

The Milken Educator Awards program provides recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 to exceptional elementary- and secondary-school teachers, principals, and specialists who are furthering excellence in American schools. This year, the Milken Family Foundation will honor up to 45 educators.

Congratulations to all educators at Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School, particularly to Michelle Johnson, on your commitment to great teaching and learning.

News announcements and articles:

• Announcement from the Milken Family Foundation
• Spotlight Profile
• Video of the surprise announcement
• Photo Gallery capturing the day's best moments
• Providence Journal article
• Providence Business News article
• WPRI-TV (CBS/Fox) Story
• WPRO Interview with Michelle Johnson

2017 Milken Educator Award Winner - Lauren Hopkins

In a surprise ceremony on October 26, 2017 at her school, Lauren Hopkins, English teacher and literacy specialist at Coventry High School in Coventry, was named the Rhode Island winner of a 2017 Milken Educator Award. The award, from the Milken Family Foundation, carries an unrestricted cash award of $25,000.

The Milken Educator Awards program provides recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 to exceptional elementary- and secondary-school teachers, principals, and specialists who are furthering excellence in American schools. This year, the Milken Family Foundation will honor up to 45 educators.

Congratulations to all educators at Coventry High School, particularly to Lauren Hopkins, on your commitment to great teaching and learning.

News announcements and articles:

• Announcement from the Milken Family Foundation
• Spotlight Profile
• Video of the surprise announcement
• Photo Gallery capturing the day's best moments
• Providence Journal article
• Providence Business News article
• WPRI-TV (CBS/Fox) Story
• WJAR-TV (NBC) Story
• WPRO-FM
  • News story
  • Interview with Lauren Hopkins

2016 Milken Educator Award Winner - Emily Caldarelli

In a surprise ceremony on October 18 at her school, Emily Caldarelli, a fourth-grade teacher at Paul Cuffee Charter School, in Providence, was named the Rhode Island winner of a 2016 Milken Educator Award. The award, from the Milken Family Foundation, carries an unrestricted cash award of $25,000.

The Milken Educator Awards program provides recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 to exceptional elementary- and secondary-school teachers, principals, and specialists who are furthering excellence in American schools. This year, the Milken Family Foundation will honor up to 40 educators.

Congratulations to all educators at Paul Cuffee Charter School, particularly to Emily Caldarelli, on your commitment to great teaching and learning.

News announcements and articles:

• Announcement from the Milken Family Foundation
• Spotlight Profile
• Video of the surprise announcement
• Photo Gallery capturing the day's best moments
• Providence Journal article
• Providence Business News article
• WPRI-TV (CBS/Fox) Story
• WJAR-TV (NBC) Story

Past Recipients of the Milken Educator Award

*When Available

Milken Educators of Rhode Island
The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards program provides public recognition and financial rewards to teachers, principals, and other education professionals who are furthering excellence in education.

Here is a video montage featuring some of Rhode Island's Milken award winners - 30 years of Milken Educator Award Surprises: Rhode Island

The goals of the program are:

• to celebrate and reward educators making a sustained, creative and substantive contribution to the education of elementary and secondary school children
• to foster the active professional development and career enhancement of Milken Educators and other professionals
• to encourage Milken Educators to help shape educational policies that influence their classrooms and schools
• to elevate the teaching profession by increasing public recognition of and support for outstanding educators and successful school programs
• to encourage talented men and women to enter the field of education

Awards are presented to elementary (grades K-6) educators and secondary (grades 7-12) educators in alternate years.

Each Milken Educator Award carries with it an unrestricted award of $25,000.

Milken Educator Awards are announced in the fall and celebrated at banquets hosted by the foundation in each state. These celebrations are attended by the honorees' families, local school administrators, community leaders, the state's chief of education and frequently its governor. These events are an important part of the program since a major goal is to honor educators publicly.