{"id":82895,"date":"2022-05-17T14:46:39","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T18:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/?p=82895"},"modified":"2022-05-17T15:24:31","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T19:24:31","slug":"baltimore-county-public-schools-teacher-melissa-salkeld-earns-25000-milken-educator-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/baltimore-county-public-schools-teacher-melissa-salkeld-earns-25000-milken-educator-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher Melissa Salkeld Earns $25,000 Milken Educator Award"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher Melissa Salkeld Earns $25,000 Milken Educator Award<\/h2>\n

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact: Laura Blank, (646) 245-2496\u00a0\u00a0
laura@keylightcommunications.com<\/a><\/p>\n


Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher Melissa Salkeld Earns $25,000
Milken Educator Award
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Prettyboy Elementary School kindergarten teacher equips young learners for academic and personal growth <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Oprah Winfrey congratulates Milken Educators in heartwarming video message as \u2018light in this world\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona says Milken Educators \u201cpersonify excellence in education\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

For full bio, photos and video, visit https:\/\/www.milkeneducatorawards.org\/educators\/view\/melissa-salkeld<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freeland, MD (May 17, 2022)<\/strong> \u2014 In a surprise assembly today, Melissa Salkeld, a kindergarten teacher at Prettyboy Elementary School, received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for her unique combination of high expectations and heartfelt dedication that encourages social, emotional and academic growth in her young learners. Every year, Salkeld\u2019s kindergarteners show marked improvement over their peers, ready and equipped to thrive in school.<\/p>\n

Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley, Maryland Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury and Superintendent of Schools for Baltimore County Public Schools Dr. Darryl Williams presented Salkeld with the honor before cheering students, colleagues, state and local officials and the media. Salkeld will join the national Milken Educator Network, a cadre of more than 2,800 educators and leaders across the U.S. dedicated to furthering quality K-12 education.<\/p>\n

\u201cKindergarten teachers like Melissa Salkeld have the important responsibility of providing fertile ground for all students to grow, both academically and as individuals,\u201d said Dr. Foley, who is herself a 1994 Milken Educator from Indiana. \u201cIn Melissa\u2019s classroom, students develop\u00a0crucial skills of self-motivation, independence, collaboration, and critical thinking. Melissa\u2019s talents extend beyond the classroom through her membership on Prettyboy\u2019s instructional leadership team, where she advocates for equitable educational opportunities for all. We welcome Melissa Salkeld into the Milken Educator Award family today and look forward to the contributions she will bring on a national scale. Congratulations, Melissa!\u201d<\/p>\n

Salkeld is the first educator from Prettyboy Elementary School and among some 60 educators coast-to-coast who will receive the Award during the 2021-22 school year. She is the only Milken Educator Award recipient from Maryland this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we are among greatness. As a Milken Educator Award winner, Melissa Salkeld sets the standard for excellence in education, not only in Maryland but throughout the country,\u201d said Maryland State Superintendent Choudhury. \u201cI share my congratulations and thanks to Ms. Salkeld, Prettyboy Elementary School and Baltimore County Schools for their commitment to outstanding teaching and learning. We know that teachers profoundly impact the positive trajectory of student lives, which reverberates through our communities, the fabric of our nation and generations yet to come. Our mission to realize a bright future for every child is only possible through the efforts of educators like Ms. Salkeld whose exceptional skill, dedication and success prioritizes both the\u00a0academic\u00a0acceleration and social-emotional wellbeing of her young students.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMelissa Salkeld is a tremendous example of the impact great teachers have on the lives of their students,\u201d said Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Williams. \u201cHer innovative teaching methods, leadership in the school community and unwavering belief in her students have consistently resulted in positive outcomes for students. Congratulations to Melissa, her students, and the entire Prettyboy Elementary School community for this well-deserved recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hailed as the \u201cOscars of Teaching,\u201d Milken Educator Awards\u00a0inspire and uplift with the unique stories of educators making a profound difference for students, colleagues and communities. The Awards are not designated for lifetime achievement. Recipients are heralded while early to mid-career for what they have achieved \u2014 and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities inherent in the Award.<\/p>\n

Oprah, a longtime education advocate, shared her congratulations to this year\u2019s winners in a video message shared earlier this year<\/a> thanking \u201cthe most incredible educators around the country\u201d and acknowledging her deep appreciation for the \u201ctireless work\u201d they do.<\/em> U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona said<\/a> Milken Educators \u201cpersonify excellence in education\u201d and \u201cinspire leadership and motivate students to excel.\u201d<\/p>\n

More About Melissa Salkeld:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Classroom Creativity for Young Learners: <\/strong>Salkeld holds high expectations for the youngest learners at Prettyboy Elementary School. She connects concepts to real life, helping students practice specific strategies, incorporate precise vocabulary, and demonstrate their learning. Salkeld often divides the class into small groups, allowing students to work collaboratively as she moves from table to table, differentiating to meet each child\u2019s strengths and needs. Students use manipulatives, checklists of success criteria, and technology like audiobooks, First in Math and Wixie to move toward mastery of reading, numeracy and other age-appropriate skills. Salkeld\u2019s pupils show consistent growth each year and leave her class prepared to succeed in higher grades.<\/p>\n

Focus on Social and Emotional Learning: <\/strong>Salkeld brings innovative practices to her classroom, with a strong focus on social and emotional learning (SEL). She has studied Conscious Discipline, a trauma-informed, evidence-based SEL methodology, and threads its strategies throughout her practice. With respect, caring and genuine love, Salkeld strengthens her students\u2019 social emotional skills, coaches other teachers on managing behavioral issues, and shares academic and emotional support techniques with parents so they can build children\u2019s strengths at home. A strong advocate for children, especially those with special needs, Salkeld stresses equity and believes all students should have equal opportunities to learn and succeed in her class.<\/p>\n

Leader in Education Best Practices: <\/strong>As a member of Prettyboy\u2019s school progress planning team, Salkeld helped design professional development for staff on responsive instruction, including developing data stories, exploring learner variability, and creating equitable learning environments. She has introduced colleagues to SEL strategies that support students\u2019 self-regulation and executive functioning, including mindful breathing, classroom commitments, and student jobs. Salkeld welcomes colleagues for learning walks and has led professional development for the district on executive functioning. Visitors from the district, University of Delaware and Johns Hopkins University have observed Salkeld\u2019s implementation of academic and SEL best practices. Through a partnership with Universal Design for Learning Implementation and Research Network, educators from around the U.S., Australia and Canada have visited Salkeld\u2019s classroom.

Education:<\/strong> Salkeld earned a bachelor\u2019s in early childhood education from Villa Julie College in 2006 and a master\u2019s in curriculum, instruction and assessment in 2013 from Walden University.<\/p>\n

More About the Milken Educator Awards: <\/strong>\u201cThe future belongs to the educated.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Along with the financial prize, Milken Educator Award recipients join the national Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,800 top teachers, principals and specialists. The network serves as a rich resource for fellow educators, legislators, school boards and others dedicated to excellence in education.<\/p>\n