Pine River Middle School teacher Stephanie Johnson was recently named Michigan’s Milken Educator Award winner, winning a $25,000 cash prize.

Johnson, who teaches seventh-grade English language arts, is the 93rd recipient of the award from Michigan and joins more than 3,000 teachers nationally with a Milken Educator Award.

“I was in complete shock when they called my name as a recipient of this award,” Johnson said. “I had never imagined anything like this. I’m an emotional person, so I had lots of emotions. It feels great to be recognized.”

Johnson’s classroom has seen about a 99.5% success rate in meeting ELA growth goals and has been known for data-driven instruction and creative ways of lesson engagement, including dressing as historical figures. Johnson also secured funds to buy new books for her classroom, including readings and lessons on the Holocaust. This effort ultimately culminated in a field trip for the class to the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills.

“Stephanie Johnson’s unwavering dedication to everything she does at Pine River Middle School highlights the depth of her commitment to her students, colleagues and this community,” said Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller. “Her innovative curriculum, focus on data, and involvement in school leadership advance excellence and inspire students to take charge of their learning.”

A bachelor's and master's graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, Johnson serves on the School Improvement Team, School Leadership Team and District Improvement Team at Pine River. She also serves as a mentor for new teachers in the district and as department chair.

“Educators have such an important impact on our young people,” Johnson said. “A teacher can change a child’s life so we carry that with us every day at our job. It’s not impactful in one second, but in everything that we do.”

Along with the $25,000 restricted cash prize, Johnson also earned an all-expenses-paid invitation to attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum in Washington, D.C., this June. The awards, created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, were first presented in 1987.

More information on the ward can be found here: https://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/about/home/.

_{Release information and photo courtesy of the Milken Family Foundation.}