Arkansas middle school teacher Ashley Anderson has garnered a coveted 2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards
Many outstanding teachers who work in our nation’s public schools deserve recognition. One of them is Ashley Anderson, a middle school teacher from Greenbriar, Arkansas. She has garnered a prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award.
Teacher Magazine has described the Milken Educator Awards as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work together to strengthen best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.
Ashley teaches English to six graders at Greenbriar Middle School. A creative and innovative educator, she designed a unique sixth-grade course based on the RISE model (Resilient in Schools and Educators). Her curriculum resulted in amazing growth in her students on classroom assessments. Furthermore, Ashley works collaboratively with Special Education teachers on her campus to ensure the curriculum is accessible and challenging for all her learners. Her inclusive strategies are used throughout Greenbrier Middle School. And just to give her students an extra layer of support, she volunteers many unpaid hours in her school’s after school tutoring program.
Student success is the driving factor of much of Ashley’s energy. Each year, she assists in the coordination of the Greenbrier Games, an Olympic-style event that gets students excited about upcoming testing. She also decorates floats for family and community night, and sends encouraging pre-testing videos to staff, students, and families. She organizes “Walk in My Shoes” nights, during which fifth graders come to the school to meet teachers, tour the school, and learn more about their upcoming middle school transition.
In addition to her work with youngsters, Ashley mentors first-year teachers, and she is an active member of the district’s leadership team, curriculum committee, and literacy Professional Learning Community (PLC).
Ashley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Arkansas Tech University in 2018.
