St. Lucie Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Milken Award
Friday, January 9, 2015
DOE Press Office
850-245-0413
St. Lucie Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Milken Award
~First Lady Ann Scott and Commissioner Pam Stewart on hand for presentation~
Tallahassee, Fla., January 9, 2015 – St. Lucie County teacher Nardi Routten was today awarded the $25,000 Milken Award for furthering excellence in education. Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation, joined First Lady Ann Scott and Commissioner Pam Stewart for the surprise announcement at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School in Fort Pierce.
“A great teacher can set a student on a path for success both now and in the future,” said First Lady Ann Scott. “I've met countless caring and dedicated professionals in classrooms throughout the state who have made a lasting impact on the students in their communities. Ms. Routten is a shining example of the kind of teacher every parent hopes for and every student remembers fondly.”
Routten teaches fourth-grade at St. Lucie County's Frances K. Sweet Elementary School. She is known in her district for dedicating extra time to her students before and after school and on weekends. Parents request her for their children because of her willingness and ability to meet a child's specific needs. Her students routinely score the highest in her school and district on standardized assessments. Routten is National Board Certified and is currently pursuing a master's degree in reading.
“Honoring Florida's outstanding educators is one of my greatest privileges,” said Commissioner Pam Stewart. “Our future leaders, innovators and work force are sitting in classrooms throughout the state, gaining the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, career and life. Because of the great work of Ms. Routten and others like her, Florida will continue to be a national leader in education.”
“St. Lucie Public Schools is home to high quality educators, and having Nardi Routten, a phenomenal teacher leader, represent the District as a recipient of this esteemed award is tremendous,” said Genelle Yost, Superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools. “Ms. Routten is a well-respected and involved teacher whose passion for helping each of her students achieve at the highest possible level is equal to her passion for collaborating with and supporting her fellow professional educators. She is a tribute to caring educators everywhere.”
Routten is one of up to 40 exceptional educators the Milken Family Foundation will recognize nationwide with a surprise award ceremony at their school and an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000. She is the only teacher in Florida honored with the award this year. The Milken Family Foundation has honored 40 Florida teachers with more than $1 million since Florida joined the program in 1998.
“Nardi Routten is dedicated to maximizing a student’s potential at the classroom, school and district levels,” said Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a 1994 Milken Educator Award recipient from Indiana. “Her commitment, care and compassion are reflected in the solid achievement results of her students and the high demand to observe her in action. I am delighted to welcome Ms. Routten into the Milken Educator Network, and look forward to her contributions.”
About the Milken Educator Awards
The Milken Educator Awards program, created by the Milken Family Foundation, was launched in 1987. The awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for their achievements and for the promise of what they will accomplish.
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