Silver Spring third grade teacher surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Dion Jones, a Silver Spring elementary school teacher, was surprised at a school assembly Tuesday afternoon with the announcement that he had been awarded a $25,000 Milken Educator Award.
Jones, a third-grade teacher at Fairland Elementary School in the Montgomery County Public School District, joins up to 40 elementary educators across the country who will receive the award during the 2022-2023 school year.
Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury presented Jones with the prestigious award and the cash prize, which can be used however he likes.
Jones will also be given an all-expenses-paid trip to the Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April.
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“Dion Jones’ impact has a ripple effect across his students, their parents, his colleagues and his community,” said Dr. Foley, a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator awardee. “In his young career, he has already demonstrated himself as a leader, a teacher of excellence and a mentor to students and staff alike. For this, we are honored to present him with the Milken Educator Award today!”
Often called the "Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken awards are given to honor the work of the individual teachers and to inspire and motivate current and future K-12 educators, according to the Milken Family Foundation.
"By thoroughly understanding the needs of his students and tailoring lessons to each scholar's personal interests with enthusiasm and empathy, Mr. Jones has catapulted his students to success and enabled them to reach their highest potential,” Choudhury said.
Jones earned a bachelor’s in elementary education in 2016 from Coppin State University and a master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2020 from Grand Canyon University, the Milken Family Foundation said.
Since 1987, nearly 3,000 teachers, principals and specialists have been surprised with the $25,000 award.
Those honored with the Milken award join the national Milken Educator Network, a group that has been a resource for other educators.
Read more about Dion Jones and his teaching here:
