Milken Educator Awards Program

The Milken Educator Awards are one of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions for early- to mid‑career educators, and the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) partners with the Milken Family Foundation to honor exemplary Kansas teachers and school leaders every year.

The awards were established by the Milken Family Foundation in the early 1980s to publicly recognize outstanding educators and encourage excellence in the profession. The first awards were given in 1987.

Key features:

• $25,000 unrestricted cash prize for each award recipient.
• Recipients also gain access to ongoing state and national professional development, including conferences and networking opportunities with educators, legislators, and partners nationwide.
• Known nationally as the “Oscars of Teaching” due to the surprise assembly announcements and high-profile recognition events.

Kansas’ Involvement

Kansas joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1991 and has been an active state partner ever since.

Kansas has had:

• 74 recipients since joining
• $1.85 million awarded to Kansas educators

Purpose and Impact

The program aims to:

• Recognize exceptional educators early in their careers
• Inspire excellence and innovation in teaching
• Elevate educators’ voices nationally
• Strengthen the profession through the Milken Educator Network

Kansas recipients frequently become leaders in initiatives such as KEEN (Kansas Exemplary Educators Network), advisory councils, and professional development efforts.

Milken Educator Award Program Kansas Honorees

These educators are recognized for innovative instruction, strong student outcomes, and leadership roles in their school communities.