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Albuquerque, New Mexico Teacher Shannon Ryan Surprised with Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash

She Has Been Dubbed “Wonder Woman” by Colleagues; Her Father Tom Ryan
Won the Award in 1999 When He Was a Principal  

January 22, 2015

SANTA MONICA, CA—During a morning assembly today at Lavaland Elementary School, students gave a loud cheer when they heard fifth-grade teacher Shannon Ryan’s name called as the winner of New Mexico’s 2014-15 Milken Educator Award, which comes with an unrestricted $25,000 financial incentive.

New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera, along with Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley, announced the teacher’s name to her obvious surprise. Ryan was later joined by her father, Tom Ryan (NM ’99), who had been hiding in the wings. The older Ryan is currently the Executive Director of Technology for Albuquerque Public Schools. When he won the Award back in 1999, he was the principal at Del Norte High School. Shannon Ryan’s daughter, Morgan, is also a student at Lavaland.

“Ensuring that every New Mexico student has the opportunity to grow to their potential is the top priority of great teachers like Shannon Ryan,” said Skandera. “We are grateful for her service to our students. I also want thank the Milken Foundation for honoring one of New Mexico’s finest educators and thoroughly support recognitions for our excellent teachers who work tirelessly with the children of New Mexico.”     

In a school marked by an extremely high poverty rate, Ryan’s expectations of students are equally high. She requests the most challenged students and instills a belief in their capacity to achieve. And achieve they do with growth in math, reading and writing that is the highest in the school. Ryan continually monitors student progress and utilizes data to guide her instruction, which is enhanced by PowerPoint presentations and songs to reinforce concepts. Her impact is evident in the state’s Highly Effective rating, indicating that her students achieved more than a year’s growth.

Ryan’s passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education finds expression in the school science fair that she organizes, as well as afterschool programs including a Hands-On Science Club and Mission to Mars program. She has also helped to raise funds and coordinate other activities such as the Drama Club, Newspaper Club, Battle of the Books, and Red Ribbon Week to promote an alcohol- and drug-free lifestyle for students, a weeklong event, which included an essay contest and culminated with an aerial photo of the entire school forming a giant red ribbon on the playground.

As a clear and consistent communicator whether by phone, email or in person, Ryan engages parents in their children’s learning and maintains a class website where parents can stay up-to-date on all activities. And when it comes to her fellow educators, she delivers professional development on the latest instructional technology, serves as grade level chair, mentors new teachers and co-chairs Lavaland’s Instructional Council. In whatever she undertakes, Shannon Ryan is the consummate professional and adept at helping students achieve their potential.

Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher Magazine, the Milken Award recognizes exemplary elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in education. The award comes with an unrestricted financial prize of $25,000 and alternates yearly between elementary and secondary educators. Milken 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.

Along with the recognition typically bestowed to recipients, Ryan now belongs to a network of more than 2,600 K–12 teachers, principals and specialists from around the country. 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 and #MilkenAward hashtags on Twitter and Instagram.

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, watch the reaction videos at www.youtube.com/milkenaward and find us on http://instagram.com/milkenfamilyfdn.

The Milken Educator Awards program, created by the Milken Family Foundation, was launched in 1987. The Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish.

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