High school mathematics educator Riley Gartland of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, has garnered a prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken
Hearty congratulations go out to Riley Gartland of New Jersey! She has garnered a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2023. She has been a mathematics teacher at Cinnaminson High School in Burlington County for the past eight years.
Riley sets high standards for her students, but she works diligently to make sure they have a path to success. She creates individualized achievement plans for each student by pre-testing each one to determine their current level, and then she schedules one-on-one meetings with them to provide individualized support. These efforts have led to notable achievement growth among students of all abilities, with many consistently outperforming the county and state. Also, Riley uses real-life applications of mathematics to bring her classroom to life. Her students create board games, make Sierpinksi triangles, and use current math technology like Desmos to create art.
In addition, Riley serves as her school’s advisor for the National Honor Society, planning the induction ceremony and reception, and chaperoning the prom and a senior class trip to Disney World. She serves as the freshman class advisor, mentoring students during all four years at Cinnaminson. She plans fundraisers, spirit week, and the school blood drive. She also fills the role of co-advisor for the school’s Future Educators Association.
Riley’s leadership extends beyond her classroom. She collaborates with the Math Department, sharing her data analysis resources with colleagues and helping to develop curriculum for students so they can build strong ties to state learning standards. During district professional development sessions, she has been instrumental in training colleagues on new technology and resources, including helping colleagues implement remote instruction during the pandemic. As if all this were not enough, Riley is active in professional development and committed to a positive school environment. She leads the Sunshine Committee, an on-campus faculty club that helps to improve teacher morale.
Riley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Mathematics from Rowan University in Voorhees, New Jersey, in 2016.
The Milken Educator Awards are hailed by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” For more than 35 years, the program has recognized excellence in the world of education by honoring top educators around the country with a $25,000 cash prize. The honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary professional educators from all over the country. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.