Fun Facts
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Pioneer Award Recipients Were Like, "Say What?"
In 1987, the first year awards were given, California Superintendent Bill Honig delivered the news to award
recipients by phone and guess what? Teachers, understandably, didn't believe him and questioned his
authenticity! Ultimately, the actual $25,000 check eliminated their skepticism.
Lowell Hits the Road in 1994
It wasn't until 1994 that the Milken Educator Awards hit the road to personally inform recipients. The first
visit took place when Lowell Milken visited Robert Bruesch's 6th grade classroom at Frances E. Willard
Elementary School in Rosemead, California.
Nathalie Mingo (IL '04)
OMG – We're on Oprah!
Catharine Schaller, a teacher at Beethoven Elementary School in Chicago, received the news of her
Award along with Oprah's televised live audience back in 1996. She was the 1,000th recipient.
Teacher Faces the TV Evening News – in Her Pajamas
It was Pajama Day at West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield, Michigan when teacher Kendra
Hearn was awarded the Milken Educator Award in 1999. It made for an interesting sight when the teacher,
now a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan, ended up on the evening news wearing her
jammies.
Like Award-Winning Father, Like Award-Winning Daughter
Charles Mingo (IL '93) and Nathalie Mingo (IL '04) are a father-daughter teaching duo who won the Award.
The elder Mingo was "re-surprised" at home when he was informed his daughter would be joining the
Milken Award family. He promptly ran upstairs to put on his tux. He was proudly hiding in the wings in
anticipation when his daughter, a first grade teacher, was recognized at Willow Elementary School in
Homewood, Illinois.
Two Big Surprises in One Day
As a child, one of seven, being raised by a widowed mother in a Chicago housing project, Robin Turner
never forgot her caring principal. He believed in her, told her she was smart and would one day attend
college. Flash forward years later to 2006 and she is a teacher at Mary Jane Sims Elementary School in
Austin, Texas. She has just won the Milken Educator Award. Donald Moran (IL '92) steps forward to
congratulate her and she recognizes him. He's the childhood principal who helped inspire her. "Do you
remember me?" she asked him incredulously. He did and they both gave each other a tearful hug.
Spreading the Milken Love
Sierra Nevada College President Robert Maxson told Milken Educator Carrie Buck (NV '08) the college
would extend a full scholarship to a teacher of her choosing at C.T. Sewell Elementary to earn a master's
in education. She chose Kirsten Stokes, a teacher at the school. Stokes is now a literacy specialist at
Odyssey Charter Schools in Nevada.
Milken Educators Paving the Way
When U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan appointed new members to serve on the National
Assessment Governing Board in 2010, two were Milken Educators: Shannon Garrison (CA '08) and Hector
Ibarra (IA '93). They are now among the select group of leaders helping to set policy for the National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as The Nation's Report Card.
And the Award Goes To...
In 2005, Suzanne Scotten, a California teacher who also acted as the school's yearbook advisor, was
taking photos and getting ready to shoot her subject—the Award recipient—when suddenly her name was
announced. She was the Milken Award recipient!
Robin J. Turner (TX '06)
Principals Getting in the Limelight
Principal Cheryl Watkins (IL '08) experienced a shock upon realizing that the purpose of the celebration
she had spent weeks planning—a schoolwide assembly—was actually to honor her with a Milken
Educator Award. Other principals have also experienced this throughout the years.
Reluctant Teacher Changes His Tune
Mat McClenahan (CA '05) was busy grading papers and did not have time to attend a schoolwide
assembly. The reluctant teacher was practically dragged into the assembly where he changed his tune
after a standing ovation from students and colleagues.