Vol. 38, No. 40
October 28, 2004
California R-I Teacher Wins $25,000 Milken Award
Lori Mathys, elementary teacher in the California R-I School District, is a winner of the 2004 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, state education officials announced today.
The honor includes an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.
Commissioner of Education D. Kent King made the surprise announcement of her selection during an all-school assembly this afternoon.
Mrs. Mathys is a fourth-grade teacher at California Elementary School. She is beginning her 10th year in the profession. She is a creative teacher who uses inquiry-based teaching practices to help her students become active problem-solvers. Her colleagues describe her as energetic, positive and professional.
Mrs. Mathys teaches in an eMINTS classroom, where her students learn to use computer technology in innovative ways. The eMINTS (enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) project provides Internet connectivity, technical support and training for K-12 schools, colleges and universities throughout the state. The eMINTS classrooms are equipped with computers, a teacher laptop, an interactive white board and a high-lumen projector to help support and motivate children in active learning. The eMINTS National Center is a collaborative education program sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the University of Missouri System Office of Academic Affairs.
Mrs. Mathys has conducted workshops for her fellow teachers on ways to integrate technology into the curriculum. She also has promoted science teaching techniques to other educators. She was recently recognized as a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
She chairs the school district’s professional development committee and has been actively involved in rebuilding the district’s science curriculum and aligning it to state standards. In 2003, she received a Moniteau County R-I School District award for exemplary efforts in improving Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores in science.
Five of Mrs. Mathys’ lesson plans have been selected as a "Showcase Lesson" by SuccessLink, a grant program that provides professional development to teachers and free lesson plans aligned to the state standards.
Milken National Educator Award
Mrs. Mathys is one of two Missouri educators chosen for the award this year by the Milken Family Foundation and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The foundation is based in Santa Monica, Calif.
Missouri joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1996. Since 1987, the Milken Family Foundation has awarded more than $51.9 million to 2,077 outstanding American educators. (See attached fact sheet.)
Mrs. Mathys did not know she was being considered for the award. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education coordinates the state-level selection process and appoints an independent panel of educators who recommend candidates for the award. Criteria for the Milken National Educator Award include:
- 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.
"This marks our ninth year of recognizing excellence in education with the Milken Family Foundation. We are proud to acknowledge the vision and dedication of exceptional Missouri teachers like Lori Mathys," Commissioner of Education D. Kent King said.
This month, 100 exemplary educators and administrators in public schools in 47 states and the District of Columbia will be named as this year’s recipients of the Milken Educator Awards.