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Award Notification:  Manuel Zaldivar (CT '16)

Manuel Zaldivar Wins CT Milken Award

The morning assembly at New Britain's Smalley Academy is buzzing: Connecticut Education Commissioner Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell and Nancy Sarrais, district superintendent for New Britain, are visiting to recognize the district for its summer learning program. But there's another reason for their visit—and one teacher is about to get a career-changing surprise. When Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, names first-grade teacher Manuel Zaldivar the recipient of Connecticut's 2016-17 Milken Educator Award and $25,000, the day becomes one Zaldivar will remember forever. Relive Zaldivar's big moment in the video above.