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Prestigious $25,000 Milken Educator Award Goes to One Exemplary Mullens Math Teacher

Mullens Elementary “School Mom” Brooke Bailey surprised with West Virginia’s sole 2025-26 national Milken Educator Award

November 18, 2025

SANTA MONICA, Calif. —  An assembly at Mullens Elementary School this morning already marked a special occasion thanks to a visit from West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt in recognition of their 2025 Exemplary School Award. However, the assembly took an extra-special turn no one saw coming: Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop took the stage to surprise Brooke Bailey, a third and fourth grade math teacher, with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award. 

Taking the stage to accept her unrestricted $25,000 Award, Bailey was hailed by the thunderous cheers of students, colleagues, dignitaries and media. Bailey is West Virginia’s sole Milken Educator Award recipient and one of 30 to be awarded nationwide in 2025-26. 

“Brooke Bailey’s unwavering support for students is visible in more ways than one,” said Bishop, who is also a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator. “Building students’ analytical and research skills during such formative years is undoubtedly building a strong mathematical foundation that will serve them throughout their academic careers. Congratulations, Brooke, and welcome to the Milken Educator family!” 

Bailey is West Virginia’s 81st recipient since the Mountain State joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1990 and is the first-ever recipient from Wyoming County Schools. Today Bailey joins a national network of over 3,000 Milken Educators spanning the Awards’ nearly 40-year history as the nation’s preeminent teacher-recognition program. Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Awards initiative has no formal application or nomination process. 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. 

“West Virginia educators provide top-tier instruction and compassion in the classroom every day. They build strong foundations to help our students to succeed and become leaders of the Mountain State,” said Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “We are excited that the Milken Family Foundation recognized Ms. Bailey as a prime example of the incredible work being done in our public schools.” 

This season will reach more than $76 million in individual cash prizes since the Awards’ first presentation in 1987 and over $146 million 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. 

More About Brooke Bailey 

A Guiding Force: Affectionately known as “School Mom,” a title she earned through the student council’s teacher superlative nominations, Brooke Bailey personifies nurturing leadership in her role as a third and fourth grade math teacher at Mullens Elementary, where she supports, uplifts and inspires her students each day. This approach has proven highly effective in increasing students’ math proficiency and meeting growth goals. 

Growing Insightful Learners: Serving as a hub of collaboration and engagement, Bailey’s classroom practices cultivate deep, conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills. Driven by research, she encourages students to interact meaningfully with one another and document their insights through reflective journaling, reinforcing key educational concepts. A memorable example of this approach was a mock schoolwide election in which her students explored the democratic process firsthand—conducting research on voting procedures, analyzing campaign strategies, and collecting and interpreting data to connect classroom learning with real-world applications. 

Prioritizing Collaborative Support: Beyond the classroom, Bailey plays a vital role in her school and community. At Mullens, she serves as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) facilitator, mentor teacher, after-school tutor and summer school instructor. She has presented on mathematics curriculum at the district level and remains deeply involved in professional development, sharing insights with colleagues to enhance instruction schoolwide. Equally dedicated to fostering relationships with students’ families, Bailey builds meaningful home-to-school connections that extend learning and support beyond her classroom walls. Her leadership also reaches into the community; she serves as president of the local little league and director of the youth basketball league. 

Education: Bailey holds multiple degrees from Concord University: a Bachelor of Science in mathematics education (2009), a Bachelor of Science in gifted education (2017), a Bachelor of Science in elementary education (2022), and a Master of Education in educational leadership (2015). 

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; and Activating Milken Educators (AME) promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs. 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 in Washington, D.C., from June 12-14, 2026, where they will network with their new colleagues, as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders, about how to further develop their voice into roles that lead to real change.
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels. 

Follow the Milken Educator Awards tour and use the #MilkenAward hashtag 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 more than 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

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