Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Teacher Janet Do of Oregon garners a 2018 Milken Award

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Janet Do

First grade teacher Janet Do of Whitman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, garners a Milken Educator Award in 2018.

Our nation’s schools are very fortunate to enjoy the benefit of talented educators. One of these is Janet Do, a first grade teacher at Whitman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, Janet was honored with a Milken Educator Award.

The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Janet graduated from Portland’s Benson High School in 2007. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Letters in 2012, and her Master’s degree in Education in 2013, both from Portland State University.

One of Janet’s strengths is building community. She forms strong, genuine relationships with her students, helps all her kids set and reach attainable goals, and is quick to advocate for children with special needs. She incorporates brain science and mindfulness techniques into her instructional program, and the results are measurable. More than 70% of her class demonstrated an increase of 1.5 years’ growth in reading last year, though only two of her 21 students began the year reading at grade level.

Janet’s school serves an area with many transient families, so Janet welcomes new students into her classroom throughout the year, quickly making them and their families feel at home. Janet speaks Vietnamese and was instrumental in planning Whitman’s first Multicultural Night, where she set up a booth to share Asian cultural activities.

In 2018 Janet earned a Milken Educator Award. She is the only teacher in Oregon and one of just 40 nationwide chosen to receive the honor in 2018. The Milken Educator Awards has been described by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” The award has been used to honor exceptional educators for over 30 years. Milken Educators are selected in early to mid-career for what they have achieved to date, and for the promise of what they will accomplish as they continue through their careers. 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 top teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education.

Lindsay Reynolds, Melania Trump’s Chief of Staff, is a former school teacher

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Lindsay Reynolds

Lindsay Reynolds, Chief of Staff for First Lady Melania Trump, is a former third grade school teacher.

Many times an excellent educator may find a second career in politics, and on occasion this career may even lead to the White House. This is true of Lindsay Reynolds, a former third grade teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for First Lady Melania Trump.

Before her appointment to her current position in 2017, Lindsay served as the Associate Director of the White House Visitors Office under President George W. Bush. She had been in that position since 2004. It was the former educator’s 14 years of experience in political fundraising, event management, and logistical expertise that makes her a great choice for Chief of Staff.

Lindsay’s foray into politics is an outgrowth of her experimentation as an event planner. As the story goes, she was on summer vacation from her job as a third grade teacher at St. Vivian School in Finneytown, Ohio, when her in-laws asked if she would help plan a little get together at their house. The get-together turned out to be a fundraiser for former First Lady Laura Bush. The party was a smash, and before long President and Laura Bush were scheduling so many events for Lindsay that she had to take a leave of absence from her classroom. The rest is, as they say, Washington DC history.

Former elementary school teacher Olivia Diaz served in the Nevada State Assembly

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Olivia Diaz

Former elementary school teacher and Nevada State Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz

There are many examples of excellent classroom teachers who have gone on to have careers in politics. One of these is Olivia Diaz, an elementary school teacher who also served in the Nevada State Assembly.

Olivia was born in 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a young woman, she attended inner-city schools, graduating as the salutatorian from Rancho High School. Following her high school graduation, Olivia earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Nova Southeastern University, a private university with its main campus in Davie, Florida. While still in college, Olivia did volunteer work for AmeriCorps, a federal program that offers opportunities for public service.

Once she earned her degrees, Olivia accepted a position in the Clark County School District as an English Language Learner Specialist at Ronnow Elementary School. For the next 15 years, she devoted her energy to her students as a teacher of at-risk kids.

In 2009, Olivia was elected to the Nevada State Assembly to represent District 11 on the Democratic ticket. She was elected to four consecutive terms, serving from 2010 to 2018. While in office, Olivia worked on the Committee for Education, the Committee for Commerce and Labor, the Judiciary Committee, and the Subcommittee on K-12/Higher Education. She was also a member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

“As one of the first Latinas ever elected to the Nevada State Legislature, she has been a trailblazer and role model for many aspiring leaders,” expressed Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly Jason Frierson, Olivia says she is grateful for the opportunity to serve her community. “Investing in education, fighting to protect and expand health care, and working to ensure that Nevada’s economy works for everyone has been an honor and a privilege,” she says.

On December 3, 2018, Olivia resigned her position in the Assembly to run for a position on the Las Vegas City Council.

Teacher Tasha Wilson of Arkansas garners Milken Educator Award

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Tasha Wilson

Milken Educator Award winner Tasha Wilson of Kingsland, Arkansas.

The teaching profession is so fortunate to have so many dedicated and talented educators working in our public schools. One of these is Tasha Wilson, a second grade teacher from Kingsland, Arkansas, who has been named a 2018-2019 Milken Educator Award winner.

Tasha is known for going above and beyond to ensure that her students treat each other with courtesy and respect, and she tolerates no bullying. The gifted educator has a reputation for motivating her students to do their best on their schoolwork, and her little ones say they feel safe to take academic risks they might not feel comfortable with taking in other classrooms. Her students demonstrate exceptional growth on their statewide assessments. Last year, her kids scored 34% higher in math and 37% higher in reading. One of Tasha’s many strengths is teaching the writing process to her young students. At the end of the year, her second graders can write a five-paragraph essay, a skill they will use and build on throughout the rest of their school years. 

Tasha was born in Wilmar, Arkansas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 2003. She has taught at Kingsland for the entire length of her 14-year career. This is her eighth year as a second grade teacher. 

Tasha says it was her love of reading and learning that compelled her to become a teacher. “This was my calling. This was the only profession that I ever thought I wanted,” Tasha reveals. “I love what I do. For someone to recognize me like this is just the icing on the cake,” she continues.

The Milken Educator Awards has been described by Teacher magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” The award has been used to honor exceptional educators over 30 years. Milken Educators are selected in early to mid-career for what they have achieved to date, and for the promise of what they will accomplish as they continue through their careers. 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 top teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education.

To learn more about Tasha Wilson, click on this link: Tasha Wilson.

Wyoming’s Chris Bessonette: A 2018 Milken Award Honoree

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So many wonderful teachers out there! This one is Chris Bessonette, a second grade teacher from Wyoming, who was named a 2018 Milken Award winner. Chris teaches second grade dual immersion at K-5 Munger Mountain Elementary School in Jackson, Wyoming.

As a teacher, Chris understands the challenges faced by his immigrant students and their parents, and he advocates for them tirelessly. In addition to learning Spanish in order to better communicate with his learners, this chalkboard champion tutors, attends soccer games and concerts, and works towards connecting families with community resources. Also, he’s famous for his positive outlook!

Chris team-teaches with a Spanish-language teaching partner. Since the pairing, the talented teacher has seen a 20% increase in his students’ state assessments in a single quarter! His lessons are data-driven, and focus on vocabulary development, a skill critical to ensuring his students’ academic success. In addition, Chris has been the leader of a collaborative effort with the University of Wyoming to pilot a new vocabulary initiative to be used in all of his school district’s second-grade dual-immersion classes. 

Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Graceland University in 1998, and his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming in 2011.

The Milken Educator Awards, which Teacher magazine has described as the “Oscars of Teaching,” has been honoring exceptional educators over three decades. Only 40 Milken Awards are given out each year, and this year Chris Bessonette is the only recipient from Wyoming. 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 top teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who are dedicated to strengthening education. 

Way to go, Chris!