“America’s future strength lies in direct correlation to the excellence of its educators”

Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2018)  —Exemplary educators from Alaska met with their Congressional representatives and education officials today as part of the 2018 Milken Educator Awards Forum, a symposium for recipients of the prestigious Milken Educator Award.

The Milken Family Foundation hosted this special Congressional Reception to connect the nation’s top teacher leaders with legislators and education officials regarding today’s most important education policy issues.

“America’s future strength lies in direct correlation to the excellence of its educators,” said Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation. “Education is not only the most fundamental of life’s opportunities, it is fundamental to our security as a democracy.”

The Congressional Reception is one of many events that Milken Educators will attend this week. Coupled with their unrestricted $25,000 awards, the educators received an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet members of the national Milken Educator Network, learn from America’s leading experts in education reform, and discuss strategies to enhance educator effectiveness.

Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher magazine, the Milken Educator Awards have rewarded and inspired excellence in the profession by surprising early-to-midcareer teachers and principals with unrestricted $25,000 awards during emotional all-school assemblies. Since first presented in 1987, more than 2,700 Awards have been presented, totaling over $68 million. With members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Milken Educator Network serves as an expert resource to policymakers at local, state and national levels.

Interviews about the conference experience can be scheduled by contacting Bonnie Somers bsomers@mff.org or 310-570-4770.