Junior high school mathematics teacher Marcus Ross of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, garners a prestigious Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

There are many outstanding educators working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Marcus Ross, a junior high school teacher from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He has garnered a prestigious 2024-2025 Milken Educator Award.

Marcus teaches mathematics to eighth graders at Lakes Middle School in Coeur d’Alene. hands-on instructional techniques, Ross tailors his lessons to meet each student’s individual needs. This amazing educator has a reputation for injecting energy into his curriculum by adapting word problems to stimulate student interest and using YouTube videos to simulate the steps to solve them. For a statistics unit, Marcus enlisted the aide of colleagues to role-play suspects in a mystery game that rewarded students with a clue each time they mastered a math concept. 

In addition, Marcus coaches cross-country, boys’ basketball, and track. He serves as an advisor for the campus  Kind Club, which organizes a “Drive by Kindness” event where students and parents are greeted cheerfully while arriving to school. And as if all that were not enough, he mentors and supports fifth graders at a nearby elementary school.

Early in his career, Marcus established himself as an instructional leader. He is a presenter for Lakes’ Deeper Learning Institute, and he serves on the PLC Guiding Coalition and the District Math Academy. Marcus also serves as a model educator in the Lab Host Network, where his classroom is open for observation by more than 100 teachers across several states and by the Idaho Department of Education. This year, Marcus is advancing his own professional development by completing an internship in administration. 

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine 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 towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more about the program, click on their website at Milken Educator Awards.