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The Milken Educator Awards provide recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 each to exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and other specialists who are furthering excellence in our nation’s schools. Each year, awards are presented to some of America’s finest K-12 educators. The largest teacher recognition program in the U.S., the Milken Educator Awards were created to reward, retain and attract the highest quality K-12 educators to the profession. Each Milken Educator receives an unrestricted financial award of $25,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to participate in the annual Milken National Education Conference.
History
The Milken Educator Awards program was established by the Milken Family Foundation in 1985. The first Awards were presented in 1987. Iowa joined the Milken Educator Awards Program in 1993.
National Statistics
• 100 $25,000 new Milken Educator Awards in 46 states
• Program established by the Milken Family Foundation in 1985
• 1,777 Milken Educator Award recipients since inception
• Over $44 million in awards since inception
Iowa Statistics
• $25,000 to be awarded in Iowa
• 1 Iowa recipients in 2008
• 45 recipients since program began in Iowa
• $1,125,000 awarded in Iowa since program began in 1993
Milken Educator Network
The Milken Educator Network is a voluntary association of nearly 2,000 Milken Educators and other exemplary educators and business leaders from across the country who are dedicated to improving teacher quality and utilizing research and expertise to shape education policy at state and local levels.
Milken National Education Conference
A gathering of educators, policymakers and business leaders working to improve the state of American education, the Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference has been held annually in Los Angeles since 1990. The Conference includes professional development activities and is highlighted by the celebration of the new Milken Educators and the presentation of their $25,000 award checks.
Milken Family Foundation
The Milken Family Foundation was established in 1982 to discover and advance inventive and effective ways of helping people help themselves and those around them lead productive and satisfying lives. The Santa Monica, California-based foundation advances this mission primarily through its work in education and medical research.
Milken Educators from Iowa
Council Bluffs Principal Receives $25,000 Milken Award
On November 11, 2008, Council Bluffs principal Jason Plourde received a 2008 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award during a surprise assembly at Washington Elementary School. The recognition includes a $25,000 cash prize. Jane Foley of the Milken Family Foundation presented Plourde with his award and noted his strong leadership and ability to motivate both students and colleagues.
Council Bluffs Principal Receives $25,000 Milken Award
| Name | Year | District (at the time of the award) |
School (at the time of the award) |
| Jason Plourde | 2008 | Council Bluffs | Washington Elementary School |
| Davis Eidahl | 2005 | Ottumwa | Evans Middle School |
| Tammy Duehr | 2004 | Dubuque | Eisenhower Elementary School |
| Gregory O'Connell | 2004 | Cedar Rapids | Grant Wood Elementary School |
| Russell Adams | 2003 | MOC-Floyd Valley | MOC-Floyd Valley High School |
| Sara Coleman | 2003 | Norwalk | Norwalk High School |
| Ying Ying Chen | 2002 | College | Prairie Crest Elementary School |
| Paula Olson | 2002 | West Des Moines | Phenix Elementary Early Childhood Center |
| Thomas Paulsen | 2001 | Carroll | Carroll High School |
| Gail B. Wortmann | 2001 | Ottumwa | Ottumwa High School |
| Denise Carlson | 2000 | Gilbert | Gilbert Elementary School |
| Kari Ringgenberg-Pingel | 2000 | Pella | Jefferson Elementary School |
| Roger Wilcox | 2000 | Waverly-Shell Rock | West Cedar Elementary School |
| Susan Gnagy | 1999 | Central | Central Community High School |
| Sue Lynn Pettit | 1999 | Waterloo | Central Middle School |
| Sara Pralle | 1999 | CAL | CAL-Dows High School |
| Dennis Wulf | 1999 | Norwalk | Norwalk Middle School |
| Janis Brendeland | 1998 | Nevada | Central Elementary School |
| Judith Brueggeman | 1998 | Harris-Lake Park | Harris-Lake Park Elementary School |
| Juli Goerend | 1998 | North Fayette | Fayette Elementary School |
| Timothy Tutt | 1998 | Des Moines | Hanawalt Elementary School |
| Sharon Fisher | 1997 | Des Moines | North High School |
| Annette Hagelberg | 1997 | West Delaware | West Delaware High School |
| Peter Hathaway | 1997 | Sioux City | Woodrow Wilson Middle School |
| Gerald Waugh | 1997 | Jefferson-Scranton | Jefferson-Scranton High School |
| Judy Christiansen | 1996 | Harlan | West Ridge Elementary School |
| James Ehmen | 1996 | Janesville | Janesville Elementary School |
| Marie Hawkins | 1996 | Iowa City | Irving Weber Elementary School |
| Ken Krumwiede | 1996 | Davenport | Eisenhower Elementary School |
| Jill Anderson | 1995 | Norwalk | Norwalk Middle School |
| Shannon C'de Baca | 1995 | Council Bluffs | Thomas Jefferson High School |
| Donald Moody | 1995 | Dubuque | Hempstead Senior High School |
| Keith Robinson | 1995 | Maple Valley | Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School |
| Mary Wilcynski | 1995 | Cedar Rapids | Metro High School |
| Glenn Connor | 1994 | Ames | Kate Mitchell Elementary School |
| Kenneth Esveld | 1994 | Eldora-New Providence | Eldora-New Providence Middle School |
| Joan McShane | 1994 | Davenport | Jefferson Elementary School |
| Susan Olesen | 1994 | Greenfield (Nodaway Valley) | Greenfield Elementary School |
| Diane Weitz | 1994 | Carter Lake Elementary School | |
| Thomas Fish | 1993 | Ankeny | Ankeny High School |
| Ronald Fox | 1993 | Council Bluffs | Lewis Central Senior High School |
| Darlene Hughes | 1993 | Calmus-Wheatland | Calamus-Wheatland Jr/Sr. High School |
| Hector Ibarra | 1993 | West Branch | West Branch Middle School |
| Nancy Mounts | 1993 | Sioux City | North High School |
| Elaine Smith-Bright | 1993 | West Des Moines | Indian Hills Junior High School |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)