When Social Studies teacher Kimberly Jakovics attended an afternoon assembly at Annapolis High School, she had no idea that she was the guest of honor and that she would walk away with a $25,000 award. Surprised before students, faculty, staff, and elected officials at the Anne Arundel County public school, she graciously accepted the Milken Award from Michael Milken, Co-Founder of the Milken Family Foundation and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, during a surprise school assembly. Jakovics, an educator for 14 years, is free to use the unrestricted cash prize in any manner she chooses. She will receive the actual monetary award, in addition to an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to participate in the Milken Educator Forum, which focuses on solutions to America’s pressing challenges in education.
“It is wonderful that a social studies teacher is one of approximately 50 teachers across the country to receive a Milken Educator Award,” said Dr. Grasmick. “I am very impressed by Kimberly Jakovic’s long-range instructional leadership and efforts. Her visible dedication and joy of teaching – from developing in-school models that target underperforming and minority students to providing professional development to her fellow colleagues – are paramount to the success of the Social Studies department. Ms. Jakovic continues to demonstrate her commitment to education through innovative instructional practices that increase student achievement at Annapolis High School and the data supports this.”
“Kim is passionate about what she does, and that passion translates into great things for our students and our school,” said Donald Lilley, principal of Annapolis High School. “She possesses a very unique ‘hands-on’ style that helps students of all backgrounds build the appropriate knowledge base. Students achieve better results and access higher level content because of her commitment to their success. She also has a very special connection to the school community that further enhances the educational experiences of students.”
Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher Magazine, the Milken Educator Awards is the largest teacher recognition program in the U.S. that showcases the importance of outstanding educators and encourages talented young people to enter teaching. Unlike most teaching awards, the Milken Educator Awards have no formal nomination or application process.
Each year exceptional teachers and principals can be recommended without their knowledge. The Milken Foundation makes a final decision on its Award recipients.
“Highly effective educators are the human capital that will equip America’s youth in this increasingly competitive global economy,” said Mr. Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation. “The Milken Educator Awards send a powerful message of the critical role that talented teachers play in preparing young people for a bright future. Milken Educators represent the best of what the American teaching profession is and can be.”
This year’s honorees will propel the ranks of recipients to more than 2,400 with financial prizes totaling $60 million since its inception. Established in 1985, the Award alternates yearly between elementary and secondary educators. The 2009 recipient will receive his/her $25,000 award and also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, California, to participate in the Milken Educator Forum held in the spring. To date, 54 Maryland educators have been honored by the Milken Family Foundation with more than $1,350,000 since the state began participating in 1993.