Local man honored with ‘Academy Award’ of teaching on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

Local man honored with ‘Academy Award’ of teaching

Related Articles

RCS announces assistant superintendent

Expert: RCS credibility destroyed

Riverdale, La Vergne out run competition at meet

RuCo students honored at state level

TBR will honor Jones Foundation to work in community

Campus School evidence contradicts testimony

Rockvale Middle students help homeless

Schools closing early due to severe weather

Anything could happen as MS tourney opens

Local test scores improve

View All

By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 10:45 am

Local man honored with ‘Academy Award’ of teaching | RCS

Milken COO Gary Stark (L) presents Stewarts Creek Elementary teacher Trey Duke with the National Educator Award Tuesday. TDOE Accountability Director Connie Smith, RCS Director Harry Gill and Stewarts Creek Principal Richard Zago (L to R) held the check.

The Milken Family Foundation was on hand at Stewarts Creek Elementary School today to surprise Trey Duke with the National Educator Award.

“I am very surprised,” Duke said. “I always dreamed of getting a big check.”

And the fifth-grade teacher did get a big check for big amount.

Duke is one of up to 80 teachers nationwide to receive the award and prize of $25,000 this year and the only one in Tennessee.

“In these trying economic times, it’s an honor to have a group from California supporting our teachers,” said Connie Smith, accountability director for Tennessee Department of Education.

The Milken Family Foundation has been supporting teachers nationally since the early 1980s, when Lowell Milken created the awards program to acknowledge teachers’ contributions to the nation’s future.

“They (teachers) have the awesome responsibility of preparing you for the future. …” Milken Foundation Chief Operating Officer Gary Stark told the assembled students at Stewarts Creek. “We need to celebrate teachers when we can. We should say thank you and honor teachers everyday.”

The foundation believes the best way to celebrate teachers and advance the profession is to reward achievements, enhance resources and expand professional interests.

The foundation presents the financial awards to new honorees during a gala celebration held at the annual Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference. The annual gathering generates widespread recognition for America's finest educators.

Award winners are chosen first by selection committees on the state level and then the foundation selects winners based on educational talent, accomplishments, leadership and ability to engage and inspire students.

Duke has inspired students for five years in the classroom. He has also inspired his fellow teachers with his can-do attitude, TDOE said.

Earlier this year, Duke had an autistic student in his class who couldn’t eat lunch or attend other classes with classmates. Administrators say it was Duke’s consistent routine and nurturing nature that helped the student reach both goals in a short period of time.

“All the teachers know,” Duke said. “It’s not that you just love to do it. It’s that there’s nothing else you dream of doing.”

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under RCS

Member Opinions:

By: HuskyLover on 10/28/08
CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. Duke! You deserve it!

By: Boo on 10/29/08
It's always great to see our wonderful teachers get the recognition they deserve!! Congratulations, Mr. Duke, and thank you for all you do!!!!