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Congratulations! New Jersey Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Carroll Robbins Elementary School’s Katherine Delvaux honored at schoolwide assembly

October 22, 2026

TRENTON, N.J. — A schoolwide assembly at Carroll Robbins Elementary School in Trenton took a surprising turn today when the Milken Family Foundation entered the gymnasium for a special announcement: Katherine Delvaux, a first grade ESL teacher, is the newest Milken Educator Award recipient. The prestigious recognition comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000. Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley together with New Jersey Commissioner of Education Dr. Lily Laux presented the Award to Delvaux before a gymnasium of cheering students, educators, dignitaries and media. 

“Katherine Delvaux is an extraordinary educator,” said Dr. Foley, a 1994 Milken Educator Award recipient from Indiana. “Her commitment to helping every student grow, innovative approach to classroom technology and dedication to creating a welcoming, supportive school community make a positive impact on students and colleagues alike. We are proud to welcome her into the national Milken Educator Network!”

Delvaux is the sole New Jersey recipient for 2026-27 and the state’s 40th recipient since New Jersey joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 2002. 

“Katherine Delvaux exemplifies the dedication, innovation, and compassion that define New Jersey’s educators,” said Dr. Laux. “Through her commitment to multilingual learners, she creates engaging and meaningful learning experiences that help her students develop the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging they need to succeed. She skillfully uses small-group, differentiated instruction to ensure every student receives the support needed to thrive at their own level. She takes a data-driven approach to tracking growth and inspires students to build confidence, take ownership of their learning, and achieve their full potential. We are proud to celebrate the positive impact she has on her students, her school community, and the teaching profession.” 

The Milken Educator Awards 40th Anniversary Tour will honor up to 30 educators coast to coast—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. 

The Milken Educator Award is not a lifetime achievement honor. Recipients 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. 

More About Katherine Delvaux 

Data-Driven Classroom Supports Student Growth: Katherine Delvaux has taken her teaching talents all over the country—from Alaska, Florida, Massachusetts, to New Jersey, where she now calls the Carroll Robbins Elementary School community home. Originally teaching second and third grade, she has since transitioned to the first grade team, where she teaches multilingual learners in a co-teaching classroom. Collaborating with Carroll Robbins’ Spanish and English dual language immersion teachers, Delvaux develops her students’ English language reading, writing, and overall confidence with the language. Using small groups, she differentiates instruction to match each student’s comprehension level. Delvaux inspires students to take ownership of their learning goals and track progress, leading a data-driven classroom. Her students stay engaged with accessible, relevant activities like authoring their own vocabulary-focused “I Spy” books, recording retellings of their favorite stories, and writing digital postcards to students in London and Norway. 

Innovative Approach to Education Technology: Passionate about classroom technology integration, Delvaux is an Apple Vanguard Team member, allowing her to train in Apple’s latest platforms and implements them throughout Carroll Robbins as part of her role on the innovation team. She leads professional development for her colleagues, spearheads the use of iPads at school, and presented nationally in 2026 for Apple Education Stories of Success. Additionally, Delvaux sits on the school leadership team and Leader in Me Lighthouse team, where she works with third grade student ambassadors on morning announcements. 

Committed to Create Welcoming School Culture: Delvaux is dedicated to making students and families feel welcome at Carroll Robbins. She consistently works to better her Spanish language skills and has attended a summer teaching exchange program in Costa Rica for Spanish teaching immersion. She is a member of the school’s intervention and referral services team, where she identifies and develops intervention plans for students and communicates frequently with families. Also a member of the climate and culture team, she helped create the school mural, leads Student of the Month recognitions, and promotes attendance celebrations. 

Education: Delvaux earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre performance in 2009 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a Master of Education in elementary education in 2014 from Boston University. 

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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