LOUISIANA TEACHER SURPRISED WITH $25,000 MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD

WESTWEGO, LA — A special assembly this morning at Jefferson Parish Schools’ Stella Worley Middle School amassed a large gathering of students, colleagues, dignitaries and media to hear Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley celebrate and recognize the importance of continued academic growth. Then, the program changed direction! Dr. Joshua Barnett—representing the Milken Family Foundation as CEO of the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching—took the stage and delivered the surprise of the lifetime, a $25,000 Milken Educator Award, to eighth grade English language arts teacher Sarah Watkins.

“What a gift to have the aptitude—and capacity—to inspire leadership in others the way Sarah Watkins does at Stella Worley,” said Dr. Barnett. “Her exemplary dedication to continuous improvement has made a positive impact on her school, community, and state. I look forward to seeing Sarah shine on a national scale as a member of the Milken Educator Network.”

Overcome with gratitude, Watkins accepted the Award surrounded by her adoring community, realizing that today’s assembly was really a celebration for her. Watkins is Louisiana’s 54th recipient since the Pelican State joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 2001. The $25,000 cash prize can be used however she chooses.

“Sarah’s commitment to student growth and teacher development is a powerful example of the academic excellence driving progress across our state,” said Dr. Brumley. “This national recognition reaffirms that Louisiana educators are among the best in the country.”

Today Watkins joins a national network of over 3,000 Milken Educators spanning the Awards’ nearly 40-year history as the nation’s preeminent teacher-recognition program. Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Awards initiative has no formal application or nomination process. Outstanding K-12 educators are sought out while early to mid-career for what they have achieved—and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award.

This season will reach more than $76 million in individual cash prizes since the Awards’ first presentation in 1987 and over $146 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to extend their impact and encouraging young, capable people to consider a career in education.

More About Sarah Watkins

A ‘Buzzing’ Classroom: Leading with a passionate heart, brilliant mind and kind soul, Sarah Watkins’ love for teaching has only grown since she entered the profession 16 years ago—and it’s infectious. An eighth grade English language arts teacher, Watkins’ positive influence on Stella Worley Middle School is reflected in the students’ excitement to learn. Step into Watkins’ classroom to see students engaging in lively academic discussions, increasing self-confidence, asking questions, offering feedback, and participating in civil debate. Whether annotating classic literature, comparing themes in Romeo and Juliet film adaptations to Shakespeare’s original, or lengthening reading logs, Watkins has built a classroom culture that encourages students to take ownership of their learning and support each other in the process.

Improving Her Practice: Through the school’s partnership with National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Watkins serves as a mentor teacher on the instructional leadership team (ILT). She coaches teachers, models lessons, observes classrooms and contributes to a culture of collaboration. Her practices are used as a model for training teachers throughout the state on the Louisiana Educator Advancement and Development System (LEADS). Her classroom is also used as an example across the district: she leads professional development, hosts site visits for principals, and records her coaching sessions for feedback. Additionally, Watkins is the school’s technology coordinator and PBIS co-coordinator, facilitates the principal’s council, and helped implement the new Guidebooks 3.0 curriculum.

Cultivating a Positive Atmosphere: Outside of class, Watkins tutors students, attends games and extracurriculars, works concession stands, dresses for spirit week, and helps organize teacher appreciation events. She is the Title I parent and family engagement coordinator, as well as a committee member for student of the year selection, fundraising, and student life, where she plans the eighth grade move-up ceremony, field experiences, homecoming, and more.

Education: Watkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in secondary English education from Dillard University in 2009.

The Milken Educator Award Reaps Lifelong Benefits

• The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
• Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators (AME) promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs. Milken MeetUps abound across the nation to deepen learning and connection and expand innovation in education.
• The honorees will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Washington, D.C., from June 12-14, 2026, where they will network with their new colleagues, as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders, about how to further develop their voice into roles that lead to real change.
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels. 

About the Milken Educator Awards: “The Future Belongs to the Educated”

The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The Milken Family Foundation celebrates more than 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

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