State Partners

Mississippi

Mississippi joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1991

80 recipients since program began in Mississippi

$2,000,000 awarded in Mississippi since program began

Dr. Lance Evans
State Superintendent of Education
Mississippi Department of Education
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771

Ms. Sandra Hilliard
Education Specialist
Office of Teaching and Leading
359 North West Street
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205

Mississippi Department of Education website

(Updated 11/6/25)

Mississippi Milken Educators

• Kayla Saxton
  Mannsdale Upper Elementary School
  Madison
  2025
• Amanda Duplessy
  Oak Grove Elementary School
  Hattiesburg
  2024
• Jennifer Hite
  Pearl Upper Elementary
  Pearl
  2023
• Krissy Long
  Neshoba Central Elementary 
  Philadelphia
  2023
• Anna Katherine Davis
  Houston High School
  Houston
  2023
• Chayna Adams
  Pearl River Central High School
  Carriere
  2021
• Kathryn Daniels
  Petal High School
  Petal
  2019
• Dr. Robyn Killebrew
  Pass Christian High School
  Pass Christian
  2017
• Dr. Allison Ruhl
  Madison Station Elementary
  Madison
  2016
• Rhonda Burrage
  Magnolia Middle School
  Meridian
  2015
• Cagney Giles
  North Bay Elementary School
  Biloxi
  2014
• Tracee Thompson
  Jim Hill High School
  Jackson
  2013
• Sabrina Morgan
  Pearl Lower Elementary School
  Pearl
  2012
• Michelle Brister
  Lovett Elementary School
  Clinton
  2011
• Latoya Fortenberry
  Jackson Elementary School
  Pascagoula
  2010
• Scott Pfaff
  Gulfport High School
  Gulfport
  2009
• Rosie Christy King
  Horn Lake Elementary School
  Horn Lake
  2008
• Aaron D. Wilson
  F.B. Woodley Elementary School
  Hattiesburg
  2008
• Madelene Loftin
  Wingfield High School
  Jackson
  2007
• Rachael McKinney
  Brandon Middle School
  Brandon
  2007
• Emilia (Emie) Bankston
  West Elementary School
  Gulfport
  2006
• Jennifer Chandler
  Pierce Street Elementary School
  Tupelo
  2006
• Larry Thurman
  Jim Hill High School
  Jackson
  2005
• Angela Johnson
  Chambers Middle School
  Arcola
  2005
• Mandy Goldman
  Northeast Elementary School
  Meridian
  2004
• Amy Rogers
  Purvis Elementary School
  Purvis
  2004
• Dr. Ellen Shelton
  Tupelo High School
  Tupelo
  2003
• Kim LaFontaine
  Pearl High School
  Pearl
  2003
• Lisa Anderson
  Sudduth Elementary School
  Starkville
  2002
• Tunja Shelton-Smith
  John Logan Power APAC School
  Jackson
  2002
• Dorothy Stewart
  Hancock County Middle School
  Kiln
  2001
• Renee A. Moore
  Broad Street High School
  Shelby
  2001
• Sonja Brantley Boone
  Kreole Elementary School
  Moss Point
  2000
• Carol A. Burton
  Hernando Elementary School
  Hernando
  2000
• Vivian Smith
  Mississippi School for the Deaf
  Jackson
  2000
• Linda Kay Clifton
  Tupelo Middle School
  Tupelo
  1999
• Dr. Sammie Crigler
  Gentry High School
  Indianola
  1999
• Jerry J. Morgan, PhD.
  Gulfport Central Middle School
  Gulfport
  1999
• Dr. Jacquelyn Sampsell
  Philadelphia High School
  Philadelphia
  1999
• Kathy Brookshire
  Poplar Springs Elementary School
  Meridian
  1998
• Charlotte Cornish
  Ackerman Elementary School
  Ackerman
  1998
• Helen Milloy
  Hopewell Elementary School
  Collins
  1998
• Edna Waller
  Magnolia Park Elementary School
  Ocean Springs
  1998
• Conwell Duke
  Pontotoc Junior High School
  Pontotoc
  1997
• Mable (Hoskins) Oatis
  Meridian High School
  Meridian
  1997
• Sharon Ladner
  Pascagoula High School
  Pascagoula
  1997
• Dr. Stanley Miller
  Starkville High School
  Starkville
  1997
• Dr. Joe Ann Clark
  Puckett Attendance Center
  Puckett
  1996
• Brenda (McCarthy) Johnson
  Rankin Elementary School
  Tupelo
  1996
• Judith Thompson
  Oxford Elementary School
  Oxford
  1996
• Senita Walker, Ed.D.
  Gwendolyn Woolley Elementary
  Las Vegas
  1996
• Lula Brown-Hall
  Leflore County High School
  Itta Bena
  1995
• Dr. Limmie Flowers
  Clinton Junior High School
  Clinton
  1995
• Linda Jordan
  Pass Christian High School
  Pass Christian
  1995
• Michael Thomas
  Choctaw County Vocational Complex
  Ackerman
  1995
• Dr. Cynthia Wilkins
  Northwest Rankin Attendance Center
  Brandon
  1995
• Collett Cross
  Ford Elementary School
  New Albany
  1994
• Barbara Davis
  Columbia Elementary School
  Columbia
  1994
• Lonnie Reed
  Franklin Lower Elementary School
  Meadville
  1994
• Ethel Ross
  Shelby Elementary School
  Shelby
  1994
• Jackie Stevens
  Northeast Middle School
  Meridian
  1994
• Rebecca Becnel
  Long Beach Senior High School
  Long Beach
  1993
• Nelle Elam
  Starkville High School
  Starkville
  1993
• Michael Marks
  Hattiesburg High School
  Hattiesburg
  1993
• Vicki Shirley
  Corinth High School
  Corinth
  1993
• Estes Taplin
  Wilkinson County High School
  Woodville
  1993
• Dr. Carole White
  Grenada Middle School
  Grenada
  1993
• Eloise Alford
  Columbia Primary School
  Columbia
  1992
• Willie Amos
  Simmons High School
  Hollandale
  1992
• John Curlee III
  Pearl High School
  Pearl
  1992
• Dr. Mary Davidson
  Mississippi School for Math and Science
  Columbus
  1992
• Dr. Katharine Owens
  Pascagoula High School
  Pascagoula
  1992
• Jacqueline Rogers
  Collins High School
  Collins
  1992
• Carolyn Adams
  Oak Grove Schools
  Hattiesburg
  1991
• Dr. Frances Coleman
  Ackerman High School and Weir A.C.
  Ackerman
  1991
• Connie Murphree
  Hernando Middle School
  Hernando
  1991
• Patricia Swinton
  Provine High School
  Jackson
  1991
• Dr. Philip Terrell
  Gulfport High School
  Gulfport
  1991
• Edward Wong
  Vicksburg High School
  Vicksburg
  1991