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Alaska Teacher Surprised with Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash

The 2014 “Oscar of Teaching” Was Presented by Milken Family Foundation’s
Dr. Jane Foley at Orion Elementary School
on Elmendorf Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage

November 07, 2014

SANTA MONICA, CA — Jenna White, a physical education teacher at Orion Elementary School on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, has received a Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national recognition. White, who was honored in a surprise ceremony this morning at her school, will receive $25,000. Orion Elementary is in the Anchorage School District.

White teaches students the skills students need to succeed in life: goal-setting, team-building, reaching for your personal best and giving back to the community, the Milken Family Foundation said in a statement.

“I am pleased that the Milken Family Foundation once again has honored an Alaska educator with a prestigious Milken Educator Award. Congratulations to Jenna White!” said Alaska Education Commissioner Mike Hanley in a statement. “I am particularly pleased to see recognition for a physical education teacher. Ms. White’s achievements demonstrate the importance of modeling healthy practices in school and the value of a complete education.”

White shows students that physical fitness is an essential part of their lives. She transformed Orion’s gym into an obstacle course, adding a climbing wall and incorporating themes like the holidays, the Olympics, and the Iditarod into her lessons. With White’s help, students develop an expertise in many diverse skills such as juggling, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, fitness testing, gym hockey and Native skills. She also collaborates with the military to create activities based on real boot camp.

White encourages her students to be active outside of the classroom. Recently, she organized a challenging 26-mile bike ride for fifth-graders that was so popular it’s become an annual tradition. She also organizes a very popular Staff vs. sixth-grade basketball game and involves students in numerous community fundraising activities.

White is one of up to 40 recipients across the country this school year who will be receiving the honor during the 2014-15 season and the only one in Alaska. The Milken Award recognizes exemplary elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in education. The award comes with an unrestricted financial award of $25,000.

Along with the recognition typically bestowed to recipients, now belongs to a network of more than 2,600 K-12 teachers, principals and specialists from around the country.

The Milken Family Foundation first presented the Milken Educator Awards in 1987. Recipients can use their $25,000 award in any way they choose. More than $137 million in funding, including over $65 million in individual $25,000 awards, has been devoted to the overall program, which includes powerful professional development opportunities throughout recipients’ careers. 

Alternating yearly between elementary and secondary educators, the Awards are sourced through each participating state department of education, which appoints an independent blue ribbon committee to confidentially review candidates for recommendation to MFF. Past recipients have used their Awards to finance their children’s education or their own continuing education. Others have financed dream field trips, established scholarships and even funded the adoption of children.

To get regular updates on notifications, follow the #TeachForTheStars hashtag on Twitter.

For information about the Milken Educator Awards, visit http://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/newsroom/media-kit or call MFF at (310) 570-4775.  Like the Awards at www.facebook.com/milkeneducatorawards, follow us at www.twitter.com/milken and watch the reaction videos at www.youtube.com/milkenaward.

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