Today, Kelly Maranchuck, an English Language Arts teacher who serves as Senior Curriculum Coordinator and Instructional Coach for grades 5-12 at BASIS Public Charter School, received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award today during a surprise assembly at her school.
“Kelly Maranchuck challenges her students with rigorous, above-grade level content and they respond by performing above expectations in her classroom and when they move on to the next grade level,” said State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant. “A pedagogical expert with strong classroom management skills, Ms. Maranchuck also mentors other teachers who are new to the profession or struggling in the classroom so they can help their students thrive. Thank you, Kelly, and congratulations on receiving the Milken Educator Award for the District of Columbia.”
Superintendent Grant joined Milken Family Foundation President and Co-Founder Mike Milken and Board Member Lori Milken at the assembly to present Ms. Maranchuck with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award before cheering students, colleagues, local officials and the media. The award recognizes Ms. Maranchuck’s work as a model for the state and nation.
As a fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Maranchuck engaged students in rigorous, above-grade level content and students consistently scored highly on annual statewide and local assessments. When her students moved into grade 6, they were consistently ahead of expectations.
“Outstanding educators like Kelly Maranchuck help everyone in their school perform at a high level, either by serving as a model for instruction or working to prepare students for the future,” said DC Public Charter School Board Executive Director Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis. “Congratulations Ms. Maranchuck, for this much-deserved honor."
Ms. Maranchuck is the only educator in the District of Columbia to be recognized with a Milken Educator Award this school year.
"We have the best teachers in the nation, and we're so proud every time one of them is recognized for their leadership in delivering a quality education to our students," said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. "Congratulations to Ms. Maranchuck for demonstrating what's possible when we set high expectations for our students and support them in meeting those goals."
The Milken Educator Award goes to early to mid-career educators for what they have achieved. Since the program began in DC, 18 educators have received the award for a total $450,000 awarded in District of Columbia. The distinction celebrates, elevates and activates the American teaching profession and inspires young, capable people to join it.
This season will reach $75 million in individual financial prizes spanning the length of the initiative and more than $144 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to "Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate" the K-12 profession and inspiring young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career.
“Educators have the most important job in our nation, and indeed, the world: to prepare every student to advance successfully to the next state of learning and life,” said Lowell Milken, founder of the Milken Educator Awards and chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation. “Since presenting our first Awards in 1987, we have seen how focusing the spotlight of recognition and celebration for excellence inspires not only educators, but also students and entire communities to new heights of commitment and expectation. Meeting these demands is essential for our nation to provide high-quality educational opportunities for all.”
More information about Kelly Maranchuck, plus links to photos and video from today’s assembly, can be found on the Milken Educator Awards website at milkeneducatorawards.org.