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Mike Sterling, a sixth-grade teacher at Sand Lake Elementary
School in Anchorage, was awarded a Milken Educator Award during a ceremony
at the school on October 12.
“
Mike Sterling’s achievement reminds us of the hard work and creativity
that outstanding teachers bring to their classrooms,” said Alaska
Education Commissioner Roger Sampson, who announced the award winner. “The
Alaska educators who have won the prestigious Milken Educator Award
represent a larger pool of talented and dedicated teachers and principals
who benefit our state’s children every day.”
Sterling will receive $25,000 with no strings attached from the Milken
Family Foundation of Santa Monica, California, during a national education
conference in April in Los Angeles. He is one of up to 100 winners
this year.
The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development created
a blue ribbon committee to identify and evaluate Alaska educators
for the award, which can include principals as well as teachers.
Educators
do not nominate themselves. The Milken Family Foundation makes the
final selection.
The recipients are chosen for their educational talent, educational
accomplishments beyond the classroom, potential for professional and
policy leadership, and an engaging and inspiring presence. The awards
say, in a very public way, that greatness in education should be recognized,
foundation officials have said.
Sterling teaches sixth-grade reading, English, language arts, and social
studies and is a partner-teacher in the Japanese Immersion Program.
He has been teaching for 20 years.
Students in his classroom are taught how to think critically about
the world they live in. Sterling’s students analyze and write
about real-world issues and many of his students have published opinion
pieces in the local newspaper.
Sterling has tremendous connection with his students. He is consistently
chosen by students as the speaker for the completion ceremony at
the Sand Lake Immersion Program and the completion ceremony at Dimond
High
School. “He always emphasizes perseverance and to never give
up on your goals and dreams,” states Anchorage Superintendent
Carol Comeau.
Alaska joined the program in 1990, three years after it began. Sixty-two
Alaska educators have won awards worth a combined $1,550,000, the
foundation said.
For more information on the Milken Educator Awards call 310-570-4773
or visit the Milken web site at .
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