State Partners

North Carolina

North Carolina joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1994

58 recipients since program began in North Carolina

$1,450,000 awarded in North Carolina since program began

Mr. Maurice “Mo” Green
Superintendent of Public Instruction
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
301 North Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Elizabeth Santamour
Educator Recognition Coordinator  
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
301 N. Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-2825

North Carolina Department of Education website

North Carolina Department of Education Milken Educators Awards website

(Updated 11/19/25)

North Carolina Milken Educators

• Shane Henderson
  Pittsboro Elementary School
  Pittsboro
  2025
• Vanessa Smith
  Croft Community School
  Charlotte
  2024
• Dr. Asia Cunningham
  Pearsontown Elementary
  Durham
  2023
• Ainsley VanBuskirk
  Pactolus Global School
  Greenville
  2023
• Jessica Barnette
  Rocky Point Elementary School
  Rocky Point
  2022
• Victoria Lightfoot
  Millbrook Magnet Elementary School
  Raleigh
  2021
• Justin Scarbro
  Walter Hines Page High School
  Greensboro
  2021
• Rachel O'Kelley
  John A. Holmes High School
  Edenton
  2019
• Meghan LeFevers
  Bessemer City High School
  Bessemer City
  2017
• Amanda Berry
  Jones Intermediate School
  Mount Airy
  2016
• Eric Patin
  Chatham Central High School
  Bear Creek
  2015
• Angie Sigmon
  Shuford Elementary School
  Conover
  2014
• Tiffany (Lachenmayr) Palmer
  Timber Drive Elementary School
  Garner
  2012
• Kimberly James
  Triangle Lake Montessori Elementary School
  High Point
  2010
• Dr. Cindy Thompson Rudolph
  Hopewell High School
  Huntersville
  2009
• Dr. Bryan Holley
  Corinth-Holders Elementary
  Wendell
  2008
• Stuart Alan Albright
  C E Jordan High School
  Durham
  2007
• Kristen M. Stone
  Tanglewood Elementary School
  Lumberton
  2006
• Aimee (Niebauer) Bryant
  West Millbrook Middle School
  Raleigh
  2005
• Jennifer Brodeur
  Hunters Creek Elementary School
  Jacksonville
  2004
• Stephanie Pearson Lemon
  Murphey Traditional Academy
  Greensboro
  2004
• Amy Vaughn
  Freedom High School
  Morganton
  2003
• Christopher Monte
  J.F. Webb High School
  Oxford
  2003
• Julie A. Barbee Svenson
  Locust Elementary School
  Locust
  2002
• Lara Bryant Cabaniss
  Fred L. Wilson Elementary School
  Kannapolis
  2002
• Dr. Cindy Moss
  Independence High School
  Charlotte
  2001
• Dr. Robert Freeman
  L. Gilbert Carroll Middle School
  Lumberton
  2001
• Dr. Patricia Legrand
  Dudley High School
  Greensboro
  2001
• Cheryl White-Smith
  Elizabethtown Primary School
  Elizabethtown
  2000
• Maria B. Petrea
  Collinswood Elementary School
  Charlotte
  2000
• Patsy Higdon
  Weaverville Primary School
  Weaverville
  2000
• Laura Candler
  E. E. Miller Elementary School
  Fayetteville
  2000
• James Carson
  Northwest Guilford Middle
  Greensboro
  1999
• Beverly Gregory
  Saluda Elementary School
  Saluda
  1999
• Shirley Ray
  Orange Senior High School
  Hillsborough
  1999
• Margaret Wirth
  Junius H Rose High
  Greenville
  1999
• Deborah Blizard
  Jacksonville Commons Elementary School
  Jacksonville
  1998
• Susan Bradburn
  West Marion Elementary School
  Marion
  1998
• Melissa McKeown
  Elon College Elementary
  Elon College
  1998
• Michael McLeod
  Wadesboro Elementary School
  Wadesboro
  1998
• Alan Felker
  Hardin Park Elementary School
  Boone
  1997
• Joan Frye
  West Pine Middle School
  West End
  1997
• Joseph Gaskin, III
  Richmond Senior High School
  Rockingham
  1997
• Donna Simms
  Ralph L. Fike High School
  Wilson
  1997
• Ann Davis
  Baskerville Elementary School
  Rocky Mount
  1996
• Faye Frye
  Stoneville Elementary School
  Stoneville
  1996
• Larry Hewett
  Chadbourn Elementary School
  Chadbourn
  1996
• Grace Repass
  Frank Porter Graham Elementary School
  Chapel Hill
  1996
• Gordon Grant
  Asheville Middle School
  Asheville
  1995
• Dan Honeycutt
  Triton High School
  Erwin
  1995
• Mary Kidwell
  Woods Advanced Technology and Arts Center
  Mooresville
  1995
• Henrietta Murray
  Williston Middle School
  Wilmington
  1995
• Brock Ridge
  Richlands High School
  Richlands
  1995
• Tracy Gregory
  Perquimans Middle School
  Winfall
  1994
• Mary Rector
  Sparta Elementary School
  Sparta
  1994
• Julia Taylor
  Clyde Erwin Elementary School
  Jacksonville
  1994
• Linda Turlington
  Harnett Primary School
  Dunn
  1994
• Albert Winston
  Hidden Valley Elementary School
  Charlotte
  1994

There are Initiatives in the North Carolina Milken Educator Network. Click below to
View state initiatives