The Kirtland Elementary School gymnasium was brimming with excited students ready for a surprise presentation Wednesday morning, when the Milken Family Foundation’s Oscar of Teaching Award, and a $25,000 prize, was presented to fifth grade teacher Rashinda Billie.
Candice Castillo, deputy secretary of Identity, Equity and Transformation for the Department of Public Education, was on hand to speak to the students. Jennifer Fuller, Milken Educator Awards vice president, presented the award.
A number of dignitaries from San Juan County, including former recipients of the Milken Educator Award, were in attendance.
Jay Boushee, Kirtland Elementary School principal, opened the assembly shortly after 9 a.m. by raising his arm and extending two fingers to gain the attention of the students, who quickly quieted, giving him their attention.
A Navajo Nation Women Warriors color guard was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish, Diné and English.
Central Consolidated Schools Superintendent Steve Carlson introduced the dignitaries and Castillo, who greeted the students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
“I would say this is the first time I go to a school that has a unicorn as a mascot, and I think that makes you like the coolest elementary school ever,” said Castillo.
She acknowledged and congratulated the students for reading 4,042 books and asked for a round of applause. She said adding up all the books she’s read would require math, and asked the students how many loved math.
She challenged them to invite friends, classmates and family to read books and to come back and tell their teacher and add them to the count.
“Is that a deal?” she asked the students, who responded in unison with a resounding “Yeeeessss.”
“Where is the most important place that you as a student can be at every single day?” Castillo asked to an uproarious reply of “School!”
She encouraged the students to make sure they put forth their best effort every day, to train their brain muscles to be the best they can be.
“And we all are here because we believe in you. We want to support you and want to see you succeed,” she said.
Introducing Fuller, Castillo said she had come all the way from Santa Monica, California, representing the Milken Family Foundation, which has been a friend and supporter of education since 1987.
“She earned her master's degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, and served as a teacher and the coordinator of leadership development in Texas for 21 years before she moved to California to join the foundation,” Castillo said.
“You might not even know about the Milken Family Foundation, but in California, we heard about the excellence in your school,” Fuller said. “In my job, I travel around the whole country visiting schools, but this is my only stop in your state, and we heard that there are great students at Kirkland Elementary. Is that true?”
Without hesitation the children shouted, “Yes!”
“Well, there is a special and exciting reason I am here. I came to tell you a secret. You know how hard it is to keep a secret,” Fuller said. “And before we leave today, you are all going to know the secret too.”
Fuller said she could just tell them, but it’s kind of fun to guess, so she would give them some hints, beginning with the meaning of “excellence.”
A girl who raised her hand was called up front to help Fuller define the word.
“Yeah, excellence is when someone does something really good, right,” Fuller said. “And I came all this way to remind everyone that educators have the most important job in our country, because they have the responsibility for preparing you for a bright future. We don't think educators give enough recognition.”
Fuller asked all teachers, staff, custodians, kitchen workers, peer professionals, Principal Boushee and Superintendent Carlson to stand for a round of applause.
“That's why 35 years ago, a man named Lowell Milken created a program to honor talented educators. The program is called the Milken Educator Award, Fuller said. “We look and search and go all over the country to find the best of the best.”
She said the teacher selection joins an elite team of award-winning educators.
“This teacher gets an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles in April, where they bring it to go and meet with this all-star team,” said Fuller.
She called Noah down to help define what it means to receive a financial reward.
“It means money, Noah,” she said when he struggled a bit.
Preselected students were called down to hold up numbers representing the amount to be awarded. The students held up cards with $25, then more zero’s were added as the total became $25,000.
“It's time to share the secret. Dr. Castillo, may I have the envelope please? The Milken Educator Award goes to Rashinda Billie,” Fuller said, as the crowd went wild.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
