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Franklin County Teacher Named Pennsylvania’s 2014 Milken Educator, Presented with $25,000 Cash Prize

Michael Baum of Thaddeus Stevens Elementary Receives “Oscar of Teaching”
for going the extra mile for teachers, students

December 03, 2014

SANTA MONICA, CA —Michael Baum, a second-grade teacher at Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School in Chambersburg Area School District, Franklin County, was surprised this morning when he was named Pennsylvania’s 2014 Milken Educator Award winner and presented with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.

Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq, Ed.D., and Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president, Milken Educator Awards, presented the award to Baum during a schoolwide assembly.

Baum 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 Pennsylvania. The Milken Award recognizes exemplary elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in education.

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

“On behalf of Governor Tom Corbett, First Lady Susan Corbett and all of Pennsylvania, I congratulate Michael for being selected for this impressive award,” Dumaresq said. “His dedication and commitment to his students is an example of the hard work educators do every day in classrooms across Pennsylvania.”

An eight-year educator, Baum started his teaching career with Chambersburg Area School District in 2006 as a reading and math coach and an Educational Assistance Program coach before becoming a classroom teacher in 2008 at Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School.

Described by his colleagues as going above and beyond for students, Baum makes an effort to connect with parents in and out of school, mentors former students and new teachers, and is one of the school’s lead teachers.

To engage students in learning, Baum is known for employing hands-on learning strategies in the classroom and monitoring and realigning instruction to meet the needs of his students. He uses multiple learning centers and facilitates small group learning for individual student needs.

Baum is currently pursuing a principal certification and holds a master’s degree in science education from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

 “Michael Baum—quite literally—goes the extra mile for his students,” Foley said. “Mr. Baum is committed to creating a positive, nurturing environment in and outside of the classroom, often offering to walk students home to make sure that they arrive safely. Inside the classroom, students are consistently engaged through hands-on projects and virtual field trips that bring science to life. Mr. Baum’s model of excellence makes him worthy of this prestigious honor, and I warmly welcome him into the Milken Educator Award family.”

For photos and video of Baum receiving her Milken Educator Award, visit http://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/educators/view/michael-baum.

The Milken Family Foundation first presented the Milken Educator Awards in 1987. Since that time, it has become the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program and was called the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher magazine. 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. 

In Pennsylvania, more than 53 recipients have been presented with the Milken Educator Award since the program began there in 1994, totaling $1,325,000 in individual Awards.

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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