Buffalo Elementary teacher Rachel Hull and Alban Elementary teacher Karen Kersey at the Milken Banquet

Rachel Hull, a fourth grade teacher at Buffalo Elementary School in Buffalo, West Virginia and Karen Kersey, a second grade teacher at Alban Elementary in St. Albans, West Virginia were recognized during a state Milken National Educator Award Banquet.  

“West Virginia teachers are among the best in the nation,” said Board of Education President Barbara Fish. “It is important to recognize and thank teachers for all they do in the classroom and the Milken award does just that.”  

Dubbed the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher Magazine, the Milken National Educator Awards were created in 1985 to reward, retain and attract the highest caliber professionals to our nation’s schools.  

In October, 100 unsuspecting educators across America were surprised with the news of their $25,000 awards– which can be used any way they choose– during emotional all-school assemblies attended by state and local officials, students, peers and community leaders.  

”Quality teaching is the basic building block of better schools and student success. Good teachers really do make a difference,” said State Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Stewart. “Educators like these give us great hope for the future of American education, and America’s children. We are proud to salute these teachers for their vision and dedication to the profession.”  

Members of the West Virginia Board of Education and future First Lady Gayle Manchin congratulate the 2004 Milken Educators Rachel Hull and Karen Kersey

Recipients will be presented with their $25,000 checks at the Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference, an all-expenses-paid professional development conference being held in Washington D.C. They also join the Milken Educator Network, a coalition of more than 1,700 top educators who have access to a variety of expert resources to help cultivate and expand innovative programs in their classrooms, schools and districts.  

Education pioneer and reformer Lowell Milken– the Foundation’s Chairman and Co-Founder– created the awards in 1985 to recognize the efforts of some of our nation’s most outstanding teachers, principals and specialists in K-12 public education. Under his leadership, the Milken National Educator Awards program has become the largest teacher recognition program in the United States.  

Educators are recommended for this prestigious honor without their knowledge by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education. Recipients of the Milken Educator Awards are selected on the basis of numerous criteria including:  

•Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by outstanding instructional practices in the classroom, school and profession; •Outstanding accomplishment and strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership; and •Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.