Lowell Milken steadies an emotional, excited Danielle Ferreira as the entire assembly—including the many Milken Educators who came to welcome her—applaud in appreciation.
Pictured, in front: Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder Lowell Milken and Dr. Danielle Ferreira (AZ ’12).
Back row from left to right: Elie Gaines (AZ ’04), Arizona TAP System Director Ann Nielsen, Brad Breuer (AZ ’10), Debbie Peterson (AZ ’04) and Bruce DuPlanty (AZ ’99)
Photo courtesy of Milken Family Foundation

On February 14, 2013 Dr. Danielle Ferreira was named as a Milken Educator during an assembly at Constitution Elementary School in the Deer Valley Unified School District.  She received her award from Lowell Milken in front of the student body, her colleagues and the myriad of press and guests which included the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Huppenthal.

Overcoming her shock and with tears in her eyes, Danielle said, “I obviously couldn’t do anything without all of the hard work that everybody puts in throughout the day.”

Congratulations Dr. Ferreira!

Links:

• Arizona Department of Education Announcement and Press Release
• Arizona Republic/azcentral.com News Article
• azfamily.com News Article
• Fox10 News Segment
• Milken Family Foundation – Educator Awards – Notification Photos
• Milken Family Foundation

Milken Family Foundation to Receive Excellence in Education Award

from Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, at Centennial Conference

Indianapolis, IN Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education (KDP), announces its selection of the Milken Family Foundation (MFF) as the first recipient of its International Award for Excellence in Education. The Foundation is being recognized for its sustained commitment to honoring and supporting our nation’s educators.
Established as a part of KDP’s Centennial Celebration, the award honors an organization that demonstrates exemplary service to educators. “I cannot think of a more deserving entity to
receive our inaugural award. The Milken family’s three decades of dedication to strengthening American K–12 education and support to classroom teachers is commendable,” reflects
Faye Snodgress, KDP Executive Director. The Milken Educator Awards program and network epitomize the proven fact that the quality of the teacher in the classroom is by far the most
important school-based factor in determining student achievement. Since its establishment, the program has honored 2,500 K–12 teachers, principals, and specialists.

MFF Chairman and Co-Founder Lowell Milken presented the first Milken Educator Awards in 1987 to recognize excellence in teaching. In 1999, he introduced TAP: The System for
Teacher and Student Advancement to generate such excellence in far greater quantities for the American teaching profession. TAP places the talented teacher front and center in a
comprehensive system to attract, develop, motivate and retain effective educators. TAP’s proven reforms now impact 20,000 teachers and 200,000 students in schools and districts
across the country.

“Educators have the most important job in our nation: to prepare our youth for a productive and satisfying future in a global economy. As the motto of the Milken Educator Awards
proclaims,” said Lowell Milken, “‘The future belongs to the educated.’ We are deeply honored to receive the International Award for Excellence, and wish Kappa Delta Pi every success in
further developing the one profession that shapes all others—teaching.”

The International Award for Excellence in Education will be presented as a part of KDP’s 48th Biennial Convocation, November 3–5, 2011, in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the organization will also celebrate its Centennial. Founded in 1911, today KDP advances the professional growth and teaching practices of 20,000 preservice educators in partnership with 635 teacher education programs as well as 25,000 practitioners—eventually impacting the academic success of more than 1.5 million students per year.

This year brings new challenges and opportunities, from the beginning of implementation of the Common Core Standards and ever changing technology to doing more with less.

Talented, dedicated educators make the difference!

“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” –William Butler Yeats

From the Arizona Milken educators, have a great school year!