BALTIMORE \u2013 Allison Felton, an algebra teacher at Annapolis High School in Anne Arundel County, today was named the surprise recipient of a prestigious 2017-18 Milken National Educator Award. Felton is the only Maryland educator receiving a Milken honor this year, and one of only 44 in the nation. Governor Larry Hogan and State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon attended the award ceremony.<\/p>\n
Hailed by Teacher magazine as the \u201cOscars of Teaching,\u201d the award is sponsored by the Milken Family Foundation and includes a $25,000 cash prize.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur administration is working hard to ensure that every child in Maryland is given the opportunity of a great education, and a big part of that is to have great, talented, and enthusiastic teachers in our classrooms,\u201d said Governor Hogan. \u201cI want to congratulate Allison Felton on this very well-deserved recognition and thank the Milken Family Foundation for this incredible program which honors our nation\u2019s educators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, noted that Ms. Felton\u2019s primary goal is to make certain every student succeeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cAllison Felton is the quintessential mathematics teacher: someone who sets a high bar and works tirelessly with her students to make sure they meet every expectation,\u201d said Dr. Salmon. \u201cHer creative teaching methods inspire her algebra students to understand complex material, master concepts and most importantly learn to love math.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Milken, co-founder of the Milken Foundation, presented the award to the awestruck teacher in
\nan auditorium filled with students. \u201cGreat teachers like Allison Felton prove every day that education is the best investment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At Annapolis High School, Felton is known for doing whatever it takes to help students succeed in math. Felton was hand-picked to work with ninth-graders on the Early Warning Indicator list, which includes students who struggle with attendance, behavior, and grades. Despite their struggles in other classes at the high-needs, highly diverse school, students have thrived in and passed Felton\u2019s Algebra I class. Even students who lack confidence in their math skills have said they will succeed with Felton as their teacher. And they do \u2013 Felton\u2019s students showed 20 percent growth from 2015 to 2016 in Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) year-end assessments for Algebra I.<\/p>\n
Felton earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics in 2010 and a master\u2019s in teaching in 2011 from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been teaching at Annapolis High School for the past six years.<\/p>\n
More information about Felton, plus links to photos and a video from today\u2019s assembly, can be found on the Milken Educator Awards website at http:\/\/www.milkeneducatorawards.org\/educators\/view\/Allison-Felton<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"