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Montana Hagler Surprised with National Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash Prize for Sowing Seeds of Excellence at Lovington High School

Agriculture educator is New Mexico’s sole recipient of “Oscar of Teaching” for 2025-26

January 07, 2026

Lovington, N.M. — A celebration of Lovington High School turned into the surprise of a lifetime for one agriculture teacher! New Mexico Deputy Secretary of Student Support Services Yvonne Garcia visited the school to commend its achievements and join the Milken Family Foundation in announcing agriculture teacher Montana Hagler as this season’s sole Milken Educator Award recipient for New Mexico. Presented today by Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley, the honor recognizes exceptional educators across the country with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. Hagler is the first recipient from Lovington Municipal Schools.

“Through rigor, relevance, and readiness, Montana Hagler helps produce New Mexico’s future leaders,” said Dr. Foley, who is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator. “Beyond her immersive instruction, Montana is a dedicated advocate in the district for securing high-quality educational opportunities and embodying Lovington’s vision for success. Congratulations and welcome to the Milken Educator Network, Montana!” 

“By using technology to maximize active learning and preparing students to apply what they learn right away—in the classroom, greenhouse, or lab—Ms. Hagler delivers the kind of high-quality, real-world instruction we encourage,” said New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla. “I encourage Ms. Hagler, New Mexico’s 2025 Milken Educator, to continue leading innovative career technical education programs for her students and the Lovington community.”

The Milken Family Foundation’s 2025-26 tour will honor 30 educators coast to coast – adding to the Milken Educator Network of more than 3,000 professionals nationwide. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken in 1987, the Milken Educator Awards represent America’s preeminent educator recognition initiative, inspiring educators, students and communities to “Celebrate, Elevate and Activate” the K-12 teaching profession. By the end of this season, more than $76 million in individual financial prizes and more than $146 million will have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall. 

Educators are not aware of their candidacy for the Award and 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 Montana Hagler 

Cultivating the Next Generation of Leaders: Montana Hagler is a trusted leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Agriculture and a beloved teacher to her students. As lead instructor for the Plant Systems Pathway and advisor for the Lovington chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA), Hagler creates hands-on, student-centered learning environments where teenagers grow not only as scholars, but also as leaders, critical thinkers and contributors to their rural New Mexico community. 

Learning Takes Root Through Hands-On Application: Hagler’s instructional practices blend innovation with real-world relevance. She incorporates inquiry-based learning, project-based units and a “flipped classroom” model that leverages technology to maximize active learning time. Students enter her classes prepared to apply knowledge immediately, whether in the school’s greenhouse, labs or through FFA experiential learning projects. Her students have demonstrated strong gains in both academic understanding and practical agricultural skills, and many graduates have pursued degrees or careers in agriculture and related fields. 

Planting Systems for Success: Beyond her classroom, Hagler is a leader in districtwide CTE programming. At LHS, she serves as CTE department chair, collaborates with school and district leaders on grant writing for the department, and has played an instrumental role in designing and implementing Lovington’s work-based learning internships for eligible juniors and seniors. She helped develop the district’s Portrait of a Wildcat—encompassing a strategic plan and the skills and aspirations that guide students from freshman year through graduation. Hagler also engages families through a parent advisory board that meets regularly to discuss program goals and student progress. 

Education: Hagler earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with an emphasis in agriculture from Eastern New Mexico University in 2020. 

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 June 12-14 in Washington, D.C., 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 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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