| Abbreviation | MEA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1985-87 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Legal status | Foundation award program |
| Purpose | To celebrate, elevate and activate the teaching profession |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica |
| Location |
|
Region served | United States |
Membership | Over 2,600 |
Official language | English |
Executive Director | Lowell Milken, Milken Family Foundation Chairman and co-founder |
Parent organization | Milken Family Foundation |
| Website | www |
The Milken Educator Awards is an educator recognition program in the United States that provides unrestricted grants of $25,000 cash to teachers deemed successful, in surprise ceremonies. Created in 1985 by education reformer and philanthropist Lowell Milken[1][2] and first presented in 1987, this initiative of the Milken Family Foundation has presented awards to over 2,900 teachers across the United States, averaging around 30-40 teachers per year.[3] Teacher Magazine nicknamed the program the "Oscars of Teaching."[4] The award currently gives $25,000 in unrestricted funds to teachers who are early in their career, or mid-career, to reward them "for what they have achieved—and for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future."[5] Recipients are ambushed at school assemblies or other public events to be publicly celebrated with the surprise announcement of the awards.[6] For example, in January 2016, a Hawaii high school science teacher was "shocked" to receive the award, given at a school-wide assembly.[7]
- ^ "An Educator's Impact". gwtoday.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
- ^ "Chalkboard Magazine, Indiana University" (PDF).
- ^ "City College Teacher Wins National Educator Award". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ "Beloved Teacher Wins National Award". The Olympian. Archived from the original on 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ^ "Milkin Educator Awards". Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ^ "About Milken Educator Awards". Milken Educator Awards.
Recipients are caught by surprise when their names are announced at emotional all-school assemblies in front of cheering students, proud colleagues, distinguished officials and the media.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Waipahu High School science teacher receives Milken Educator Award". KHON-TV. January 29, 2016.