April 6, 2022
A high school English teacher in Anchorage received a prestigious Milken Educator Award in a surprise ceremony Wednesday morning.“I’m really glad I didn’t take a personal day today,” she joked while accepting the award. “It’s sometimes really hard to show up — my year this year has been really hard,” she said. “To be here today and to get recognition and support from these amazing people behind me and this entire West High community, it means so much. And I just want to say thank you.”
“Teaching continues to be the best career that I’ve ever had because it is fulfilling to see young people reach their potential,” she wrote on her classes’ onlineHer classroom activities include “Vocab Slam” events, where students use vocabulary words they’re learning to create slam poetry. She’s mentored new teachers, National Merit Scholarship semifinalists and international baccalaureate students completing research projects.