Longbranch Elementary math teacher Jenna Stewart was honored as Kentucky’s Milken Educator Award along with winners from other states at the national Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in early April.
Sometimes referred to as the “Oscars of teaching,” the Milken National Educator Award traces back to Lowell Milken, a California-based businessman and philanthropist who founded the Milken Family Foundation in 1982. The foundation announced Stewart’s recognition in a surprise ceremony at Longbranch in December. The award comes with a $25,000 payout that Stewart can use on whatever she wants.
The all-expenses-paid trip to L.A. and $25,000 cash prize were part of each educator’s Award, which also provides lifetime membership to the national Milken Educator Network, powerful mentorship and professional development opportunities and access to a brain trust of over 3,000 Milken Educators working to shape the future of K-12 education, according to a press release from the foundation.
“We honor the achievements of 2024’s Milken Educators, who dedicate their lives to providing students with the high-quality education they need and deserve,” said Lowell Milken in the same release. “We shine a spotlight on these extraordinary change agents so that when they return to their communities, they will know that their impact is not only noticed but also treasured. We hope they will continue to inspire other talented young people to join the adventure of teaching and serve as a beacon of excellence for future generations.”