Dr. Cade Brumley Louisiana State Superintendent of Education | https://www.nsula.edu
Sarah Watkins, an eighth grade English language arts teacher at Stella Worley Middle School in Jefferson Parish, was surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award during a school assembly. The event included students, colleagues, local dignitaries and members of the media.
Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, initially led the assembly to highlight academic growth before Dr. Joshua Barnett, CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and representative of the Milken Family Foundation, announced Watkins as this year’s recipient.
“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.”
Watkins accepted the award among her peers and students. She is now Louisiana’s 54th recipient since 2001 when the state joined the Milken Educator Awards program. The $25,000 cash prize comes without restrictions on its use.
“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.”
The Milken Educator Awards program recognizes K-12 teachers nationwide who show exceptional achievement early or mid-career. There is no formal application process; candidates are identified based on their work and potential impact if given additional resources.
The awards program has distributed more than $76 million in individual prizes since it began in 1987 and invested over $146 million into its educator network overall.
Watkins has been teaching for 16 years and is known for creating an engaging classroom environment where students participate actively in discussions and learning activities related to literature and writing. She also mentors other teachers through her school’s partnership with NIET, leads professional development sessions district-wide using her classroom as an example for training under LEADS (Louisiana Educator Advancement and Development System), coordinates technology initiatives at her school, co-leads PBIS efforts (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports), organizes student life events such as ceremonies and homecoming celebrations, tutors students after hours, attends extracurricular activities, and serves as Title I parent engagement coordinator.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary English education from Dillard University.
Milken Educator Award recipients gain access to mentorship programs that connect them with veteran educators for leadership opportunities aimed at improving educational practice both locally and nationally. They will also attend an all-expenses-paid forum next June in Washington D.C., where they will meet fellow honorees along with education leaders from across the country.
The Milken Family Foundation established these awards nearly four decades ago to honor educators who further excellence in American public schools.
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