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!