Spotlight: Rashinda Billie (NM '24)

New Mexico Milken Educator Rashinda Billie (NM ‘24) is a fifth grade teacher at Kirtland Elementary School. Billie’s classroom is a dynamic space where learning comes to life through hands-on experiences and innovative teaching methods. A proud member of the Navajo community, she fosters growth, curiosity and excitement in her fifth graders, leading them to thrive academically and personally. Billie received a 2024-25 Milken Educator Award on January 15, 2025.

Milken Family Foundation: How did you feel at your Milken Educator Award notification?

I remember feeling a sense of disbelief when my name was called. Out of all the talented teachers in my school, I was not expecting to be the one to receive this Award.  Afterwards, there was an overwhelming sense of happiness and excitement. Was this really happening to me? Being able to share that moment with my coworkers, students, administration, etc., was an incredible feeling. This is a moment that I will always cherish. 

MFF: How did students respond to your Milken Award?

They were very supportive and ecstatic for me. There were a few students who had already said, "I knew it was going to be you, Miss Billie, because you are the best teacher I have ever had." Of course, there were also the questions of: What are you going to do with your money? Will you still be our teacher for the rest of the year? I had a few students who said they had told their parents that evening what had happened and watched the news clip. The support from not only the parents of my current and past students, but also from the whole community was outstanding. On a side note, my students were also very excited to be on TV for those few seconds they were shown. 

MFF: What made you want to pursue a career in education?

I've always known I wanted to be a teacher. I remember competing in a school writing contest in fourth grade where we had to write about what we wanted to be when we grew up and I wrote about wanting to be a teacher. As I grew older, I was always happy to help my classmates when they struggled with their schoolwork. Another huge factor was that I loved interacting with kids. Their curiosity and excitement to keep learning new things, and their unfiltered honesty, is both refreshing and humbling. 

MFF: How do you make learning fun and meaningful for your students, especially with your hands-on, creative approach?

Following a set curriculum is not how I prefer to teach my students. I believe that every student learns in their own unique way, so using different strategies while teaching is my favorite thing to do. I also try to make what they learn relevant by applying it to real-world situations. Project-based learning is a great way to do this because students are applying multiple skills at once. I have had students create their own food trucks, balance checkbooks, plan road trips or vacations, design zoos, and more. Using games such as escape rooms or Kahoot in the classroom is always a great way to keep students engaged. My students love the competitive aspect of it, and I see an increase in both motivation and cooperation. 

MFF: How has your leadership work at school shaped your teaching and impacted your team or students?

I believe a leader is someone who makes the people around them more confident in themselves and supports them in their professional growth. Within my school, we support one another and discuss the best approaches to helping our students succeed. Working with not only the teachers within my grade level, but also other grade levels as well makes the most impact for our students. 

MFF: Who or what inspired you to be an educator?

I had many outstanding teachers growing up, but there is always one who stood out, Mr. Armstrong. The passion and excitement he brought to the classroom each day, along with his commitment to ensuring that each of my classmates felt valued, showed me the path I wanted to follow. 

MFF: What’s one thing you hope students remember from their time in your classroom?

I hope they remembered that I love them and truly care about them as a whole person, not just a student.

MFF: Are you working on any interesting initiatives or new projects these days?

Right now, I am completing my microcredentials to upgrade to a Level 3 license. I will also be working with the CEDAR [Center for Educator Diversity, Achievement, and Responsiveness] program from Fort Lewis College to mentor and support new student teachers through job shadowing, consultation meetings, and providing cultural experiences in and out of the classroom.