The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award 

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

2015 Milken Educator Award Winner - Kendra Borden

In a surprise ceremony on October 14 at her school, Kendra Borden, an English teacher at Samuel Slater Junior High, in Pawtucket, was named the Rhode Island winner of a 2015 Milken Educator Award. The award, from the Milken Family Foundation, carries an unrestricted cash award of $25,000.

A Rhode Island College graduate, Kendra Borden has taught at Samuel Slater since she started her career seven years ago. In addition to her classroom teaching, she is the credit-recovery coordinator for the school, the facilitator of the Positive Intervention and Support Team, a member of the Building Leadership Team and of the Curriculum Writing Team, and she has worked as a writing teacher for the College Crusade Saturday Academy.

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 Pawtucket educators, particularly to Kendra Borden, on your commitment to great teaching and learning.

News announcements and articles:

• Announcement from the Milken Family Foundation
• Video of the surprise announcement
• Providence Journal article
• Interview with Steve Klamkin - WPRO630 - Saturday Morning with Steve Klamkin
• Connections: Linking Talented Educators - Spotlight on Kendra Borden (RI '15)

2014 Milken Educator Award Winner - Erin Quinlan

At a surprise ceremony this morning (October 9, 2014) at the Captain Isaac Paine Elementary School, in Foster, Erin F. Quinlan, a reading specialist and instructional coach, was named the Rhode Island winner of a 2014 Milken Educator Award.

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

“There are exciting things taking place in schools all across Rhode Island, and part of the reason is the hard work, skill, and enthusiasm of educators like Erin Quinlan,” said Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts. “Her dedication to her students and her commitment to her school represents the best of Rhode Island educators, and I am pleased that the Milken Family Foundation has granted Erin this important award.” 

News announcements and articles:

• Announcement from the Milken Family Foundation
• Video of the surprise announcement
• Providence Journal article

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.