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Lincoln Parish’s Allison Smith Scores a Spectacular $25,000 Surprise: The Milken Educator Award!

National acclaim for Ruston’s outstanding third grade teacher Allison Smith

November 12, 2026

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — What’s better than one celebration? Two celebrations! This morning, nestled on the campus of Louisiana Tech University, students, staff, dignitaries and media gathered for an all-school assembly at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School with Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley to celebrate an increase of School Performance Scores. Little did they realize there was a giant surprise in store for one special educator. When Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller took the mic, all became clear. The Milken Educator Award goes to … third grade ELA and social studies teacher Allison Smith! 

Taken by complete surprise, Smith accepted the unrestricted $25,000 cash prize accompanying the Award, which has no formal applications or nominations. Outstanding K-12 educators are sought out while early to mid-career for what they have achieved—and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award. 

“It takes significant commitment to provide the level of care, intentionality, and support that Allison Smith shows her students,” said Fuller, herself a 2017 Texas Milken Educator. “Her passion in every step of her teaching career is inspiring and builds a bright future for herself and her students for years to come. Congratulations, Allison, and welcome to the Milken Educator Awards family!” 

Smith is Louisiana’s 55th recipient since The Pelican State joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 2001. The Milken Educator Awards 40th Anniversary Tour will honor up to 30 educators this school year, adding to the Milken Educator Network of more than 3,000 professionals nationwide. Since the Awards’ first presentation in 1987, more than $76 million in individual cash prizes and over $147 million has been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to broaden their impact and encouraging young, capable people to consider a career in education.  

“Teaching is a family calling for Allison Smith, and she answers that call every day for students at A.E. Phillips and Louisiana Tech,” said Dr. Brumley. “The students in her classroom benefit from engaging lessons delivered by a teacher who never stops getting better.” 

More About Allison Smith 

Making a Lasting Impact: Right on the campus of Louisiana Tech University sits the third grade classroom of ELA and social studies teacher Allison Smith and her partner teacher at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School. One could say that education is truly in Smith’s blood—she grew up watching her mother supervise student teachers at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, which later became Smith’s alma-mater. Now, Smith has found her own way of giving back to the profession. Leading with the mantra, “Tell me something you would like your teacher to know,” Smith ensures each student feels heard and valued. She differentiates, utilizes small group instruction, and assesses students’ comprehension in real time. Each day, Smith presents a “Quick Question,” asking students to answer a targeted formative assessment question tailored to each day’s learning goal. Students engage in cross-curricular learning, most memorably in the year-end “Island Project,” where they dream up imaginary islands using geographic and economic reasoning, then write a descriptive essay about their creations. 

Uplifting Her Peers: Smith serves as a mentor to clinical residents at Louisiana Tech University and often hosts observers and practicum students in her classroom. A member of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, she presented at numerous conferences and helped organize the Northeast Louisiana Teacher Symposium. Smith also contributes to broader Lincoln Parish curriculum rollouts by writing her own materials and support keys for fellow educators. 

Spreading Positivity: Always modeling a joyful presence on campus, Smith is trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention and is skilled at supporting students’ social and emotional needs. She leads the school’s Kindness Club and serves on the Sunshine Committee, while maintaining her connection to students as a volunteer for school and district events. She makes learning a collaborative effort by involving parents, tutors, and community guest speakers in classroom initiatives. One highlight of third grade is the STEM show, where students dress up as STEM professionals and perform a show for students and families, igniting their imaginations for their future careers. 

Education: Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Louisiana Tech University in 2019 and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2023. 

The Milken Educator Award Reaps Lifelong Benefits

• The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
• Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; Activating Milken Educators (AME) promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs; and the Milken Educator Collective connects recipients with shared content areas, grade levels, or professional roles. Milken MeetUps abound across the nation to deepen learning and connection and expand innovation in education.
• The honorees will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum from June 4-6, 2027, in Washington, D.C., where they will network with their new colleagues, as well as veteran Milken Educators and other leaders, about how to amplify their voices as beacons of excellence in the profession.
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels. 

The Milken Educator Award might come to a community near you! Who will be next? Join us as we surprise these remarkable individuals and celebrate their dedication to excellence in education! Follow the tour and use the #MEA40 and #MilkenAward hashtags on: YouTube (MilkenAward) | Facebook (MilkenEducatorAwards) | Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn) | TikTok (MilkenAward) | X (Milken) | LinkedIn (MilkenFamilyFdn). 

Visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 for more information.

About the Milken Educator Awards: “The Future Belongs to the Educated”
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to K-12 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. The Milken Family Foundation celebrates over four decades of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

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