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Shana, You’re A Star! Colorado Springs Teacher Shines at Surprise $25,000 Milken Educator Award Assembly

Harrison School District 2’s Shana Engel celebrated as one of the nation’s finest educators

January 08, 2026

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The national Milken Educator Award tour touched down in Colorado Springs this morning to pay a visit to an extraordinary teacher at Mountain Vista Community School. Meaning–sixth grade math teacher Shana Engel’s New Year couldn’t be off to a better start. 

Accompanied by Colorado Commissioner of Education Dr. Susana Córdova, Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley addressed the all-school assembly, taking Engel by complete surprise when her name was called as the newest Milken Educator Award recipient. Along with the prestigious honor, Engel received an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize surrounded by cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media. 

“Shana Engel is paving the way for future mathematicians,” said Dr. Jane Foley, who is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator herself. “By emphasizing the importance of math to students’ lives, she is building a community of learners who will enter their next academic chapter with confidence and enthusiasm. Thank you, Shana, for the important work you do. Welcome to the Milken Educator family of excellence.” 

Engel is Colorado’s 96th recipient since the Centennial State joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1989. To further celebrate Colorado’s sole 2025-26 Milken Educator, Governor Jared Polis’ personal video message of congratulations echoed throughout the gym as Shana looked on, still in shock. 

“Shana Engel represents the very best in Colorado’s educator profession,” said Dr. Córdova. “Her students thrive because she combines rigorous, engaging instruction with deep care for every learner—and she lifts up her colleagues and school community along the way.” 

Today Engel 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. 

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 Shana Engel 

Nurturing Mathematicians: Shana Engel has the ‘magic touch’ when it comes to teaching mathematics. Her sixth grade students at Mountain Vista Community School recognize the value of her carefully constructed lessons, in which they take an active role in the learning process. From emphasizing project-based learning to upholding high student participation expectations, Engel’s targeted, data-driven instruction works wonders: her students consistently demonstrate notable achievement and growth on iReady sixth grade math and on the CMAS. Engel’s effective interventions and differentiated instruction also help deepen content knowledge and understanding. 

A Cheerleader for Her Peers: Engel’s skills, knowledge and useful experiences serve her well as the school’s sole sixth grade math teacher, sixth grade team lead, and middle school math lead. She participates in multiple facets of school and district operation—whether contributing to the math committee, MTSS team, Understanding by Design initiatives, or mentoring through the district’s new staff institute. Passionate about teacher development and retention, Engel completed advanced mentoring training and coursework and has mentored student teachers through her alma-mater, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). She supports her colleagues through modeling lessons and leading professional development on topics such as student engagement strategies and math reasoning. 

Promoting STEM: Beyond her classroom walls, Engel organizes opportunities for students to engage with math through STEM club, robotics club, and math tutoring club. Her commitment to and relationship with the school community is positive; she inspires parents to volunteer in her classrooms, and students often choose to be her for “teacher takeover day.” 

Education: Engel earned a bachelor’s in history with an elementary education endorsement from UCCS in 2012. 

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 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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