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Tuscaloosa County Science Teacher Wins the ‘Oscar of Teaching’ in Alabama

Walker Elementary School Teacher Krystle Bryant Receives
Prestigious Milken Award and $25,000

January 13, 2015

SANTA MONICA, CA— Today in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Milken Family Foundation presented the Milken Educator Award to Walker Elementary School science teacher Krystle Bryant.

The entire school gathered to hear the extraordinary news that one of its own would receive an unrestricted $25,000 financial reward. Presented by State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice and Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley, the award honors the exceptional work of educators as a model for the state and nation.

“This recognition of Krystle Bryant as a Milken Educator is a direct reflection of her unwavering passion to ensure all students have a depth of understanding of science and how that understanding applies to real-world problems needing real-world solutions,” said Bice. “She is a role model for what rigorous and relevant instruction looks like in action.”

Bryant is a fifth-grade science teacher who uses her educational talent to effectively implement creative instructional strategies at Walker Elementary School and to provide care and compassion to each of her students. When her school’s math scores became a focus in 2013, Bryant took it upon herself to enroll in the state’s one-year training for mathematics standards so she could add them to her science curriculum. With her help, the school’s math scores improved on each benchmark in 2014.

She also incorporated reading standards into her science curriculum, thereby teaching students three subjects at once. This dedication to cross-curricular excellence is in addition to her students’ mastery of science. In 2014, 92 percent of her students scored a Level 3 or 4 on the Alabama Science Assessment, which was an increase of 4 percent over the previous year, and 57 percent scored a Level 4.

Strategic teaching techniques and creative opportunities are evident in Bryant’s class every day. Students demonstrate their mastery of material through rapping, creative dance and acting out their science objectives.

Bryant is also a valued mentor, sharing her techniques with colleagues and student teachers as a clinical master teacher. Her colleagues are often in awe of the relationships she has with students. Together with parents, personal goals are set for each student to ensure that they are striving both within and outside of the classroom, and regular contact with parents involves them in their students’ progress.

Since Alabama joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1998, 32 Alabama educators have received the “Oscar of Teaching” and a total of $800,000.

Alternating yearly between elementary and secondary educators, the Awards are sourced through each participating state department of education, which appoints an independent blue ribbon committee to confidentially review candidates for recommendation to MFF.

Past recipients have used their Awards to finance their children’s education or their own continuing education. Others have financed dream field trips, established scholarships and even funded the adoption of children.

To get regular updates on notifications, follow the #TeachForTheStars and #MilkenAward hashtags on Twitter and Instagram.

For information about the Milken Educator Awards, visit http://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/newsroom/media-kit or call MFF at (310) 570-4775.  Like the Awards at www.facebook.com/milkeneducatorawards, follow us at www.twitter.com/milken, watch the reaction videos at www.youtube.com/milkenaward and find us on http://instagram.com/milkenfamilyfdn.

The Milken Educator Awards program, created by the Milken Family Foundation, was launched in 1987. The Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school 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.


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