Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

TN teacher Raeven Brooks earns prestigious Milken Educator Award

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Second grade teacher Raven Brooks of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has earned a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Educator Award. Photo Credit: Milken Family Foundation

I always enjoy sharing an inspirational story about a talented educator who has earned accolades for work in the classroom. Today’s story is about elementary school teacher Raeven Brooks  from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who has garnered a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2021-2022.

Raeven teaches second grade at Black Fox Elementary school in Murfreesboro, the same school she attended when she was a child. In Raeven’s classroom, every learner is fully engaged in high-level which emphasize reasoning and problem-solving. In addition, she runs an intervention math group for students who are one or more years behind grade level. During the pandemic, Raven worked with a colleague to create a camping-themed video lesson incorporating reading and writing skills. The lesson was televised on Murfreesboro City TV for students who were engaged in remote learning.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Raeven co-leads and coordinates district-level data analysis for the school’s Response to Instruction and Intervention-Behavior (RTI2-B) team. She also helps recruit new teachers with the Job Fair team, she mentors new teachers in the school and district, and she supervises student teachers from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). For two years, she has participated in professional learning workshops through Project Inspire, a joint project of Murfreesboro City Schools and MTSU.

Raven earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Middle Tennessee State University in 2015. Currently she is enrolled in the university’s Administration and Supervision Graduate Program.

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 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Elem teacher Autumn Rivera named Colorado’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year

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Elementary science teacher Autumn Rivera has been named Colorado’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: CPR News

I always enjoy spreading the good news about exceptional educators who have won accolades for their work in the profession. One of these is Autumn Rivera, an elementary school teacher who has been named Colorado’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year.

Autumn teaches sixth grade science at Glenwood Springs Middle School in Glenwood Springs. She is also an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College. Her career as an educator spans 17 years.

It makes sense that Autumn should win this award. Her expertise in the classroom is well-known among her colleagues. “The amount of stuff she does really well is what the really crazy part is,” asserts Joel Hathaway, Principal of Glenwood Springs Middle School. “The fact that she can, day after day, class after class, build relationships with kids, get kids excited about science, be so enthusiastic, have super effective lessons and engagement and do all the millions of things that she does for this school, this community, the district and the state is amazing,” Hathaway continues.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Autumn fulfills the role of Science Lead, and she is the track coach at her school. She serves on the Colorado Science Conference planning committee and the Colorado Science Education Network Steering Committee. She is the Region 3 Elementary Board representative for the Colorado Association of Science Teachers, and she has conducted professional development courses at the Roaring Fork EdTech Summit and the Colorado Science Conference. She also volunteers with the American Association of Chemistry Teachers.

Autumn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and her Master’s degree in Teaching Secondary Science, both from Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She earned an additional Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Congratulations, Autumn!

WV’s Heather Haught earns prestigious Milken Award

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Elementary school teacher Heather Haught of West Virginia has earned a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Award. Photo Credit: West Virginia Education Association

I always enjoy sharing stories about talented educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Heather Haught, an elementary school teacher from Moundsville, West Virginia, who has earned a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Award.

Heather teaches first grade at McNinch Primary School in Moundsville. Her instructional strategies emphasize research-based curriculum, differentiated instruction, problem-based lessons, higher-level thinking skills, and a collaborative environment.

“Heather Haught is a sterling example of compassion and commitment, said W. Clayton Burch, West Virginia’s Superintendent of Schools. “She is committed to fostering a strong foundation of learning among her first grade students at McNinch Primary School and illustrates such compassion as she engages families in the education of their children,” he continued. “She not only adopts research-based practices into her instruction plans, but she also shares her innovations and approaches with other teachers in her school and county to advance teaching and learning beyond her own classroom. We are proud of her leadership and the depth of her commitment to the children and families of her community,” he concluded.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Heather serves on or leads various school and district committees, including teams handling math, textbook selection, positive behavior support, safety, and hiring. She also conducts professional development programs for the district. And as if all that were not enough, she also instructs college education courses at both West Virginia University and Bethany College.

Heather earned her Bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from West Virginia University in 2009 from West Virginia University. She earned Master’s degrees in Elementary Education in 2009 and Reading in 2010 from the same institution, and she completed the coursework for her Administrative Certificate from Wheeling University in 2019.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Heather is one of up to 60 educators to receive the Milken Educator Award for the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

North Carolina teacher Eugenia Floyd named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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North Carolina elementary school teacher Eugenia Floyd has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Eugenia Floyd, an elementary school teacher from North Carolina who has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Eugenia has taught fourth grade for eight years at Mary Scroggs Elementary School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In her classroom, the honored educator says she emphasizes equity. To achieve this goal, she teaches a unit on social issues. She facilitates discussions about such topics as bullying, racism, and sexism. “Not only do I want to make sure I teach my students material that can connect to the world around us,” Eugenia says, “but I also want them to be able to use what they have learned in order to make themselves and the world a better place,” she continues. “When students are able to connect to their lives and world around them, learning will most definitely happen and stick,” she concludes. In addition, Eugenia says a key element of her approach is having high expectations of all students, rather than imposing any limits on their capacity to learn.

The honored educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She completed her K-6 teacher certification at North Carolina Central University in 2013. In 2020, she earned her Master’s degree in Gifted Education from Elon University located in Elon, North Carolina.

As North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year, Kimberly will serve as a state ambassador for teachers and as an advisor on the State Board of Education for two years. The honor includes a cash award of $8,500, a trip to the National Teacher of the Year Conference and International Space Camp, a leased car, a mobile phone, a foldable laptop computer, and the opportunity to travel abroad.

Congratulations, Eugenia!

Teacher Sue Cahill serves in Iowa House of Representatives

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Elementary school teacher Sue Cahill also serves in the Iowa State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Ballotpedia

Many fine classroom teachers go on to have successful careers in politics. One of these is Sue Cahill, an elementary teacher from Iowa who has been elected to her state’s House of Representatives.

Sue was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communications in 1981. In 2006 she earned her teaching credential from Buena Vista University, and in 2008 she completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Collaborative Teaching and Learning at Graceland University. She also holds certifications in Reading, Teacher Librarianship, and Computer Science.

Once she earned her degrees, Sue became a teacher in Iowa’s Marshalltown Community School District. That was in 1999. She worked as a kindergarten teacher for 12 years at Woodbury Elementary, and she also worked at Rogers Elementary. In addition to her work in the classroom, Sue has worked as a Teacher Librarian at the elementary level. Currently, she teaches as a Title 1 Reading Specialist. Her career as an educator has spanned a total of 24 years.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Sue works as a teacher leader and helps train new teachers. She also serves on the Marshalltown Youth Foundation, which helps fund music, arts and sports programs for children, The Marshalltown Read by Third Campaign, a program which supports educational success for all students. In addition, she is an active member and leader of the Marshalltown Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association. She has also participated in the Iowa Teacher Leadership Compensation Grant in the role of a Curriculum and Professional Development Leader.

Sue launched her career in politics in 2017 when she was elected to a seat on the Marshalltown City Council representing the First Ward. She served in that role for three years. On Nov. 4, 2020, Sue was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives. Since January, 2021, she represents the 71st District there. She serves on the Committees for Administration and Rules; Education; Labor; and Veterans Affairs. Her term there will last until 2023.