Her career is highlighted by support and student understanding

Keighley George (2018, Master of Education in Teaching) grew up in a family of educators. She always knew she would join the profession to make a difference in the lives of others. She wanted her job to be meaningful and purpose driven. Recently, her work was honored when George was presented with the Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national honor hailed as the “Oscar of Teaching,” that recognizes exceptional educators for their dedication to excellence in education and leadership.

“Receiving the award was a complete surprise,” says George. “I knew our school was having an assembly, but when they called my name, it was a complete shock. Our kindergarten through fifth grade students were there and our school choir sang. It was a special moment that I will never forget.”

In addition to the $25,000 cash prize, George and fellow award recipients will travel to Los Angeles this spring for the Milken Educator Awards Forum where they will meet other awardees and veteran educators to learn about expanding their impact.

George hopes the recognition shines a light on intentional instruction. As the reading interventionist at Forest Lake Elementary School, she works with students who show a risk in reading.  “I use a structured literacy approach to meet my students where they are and help them bridge to where they need to be,” says George. “Through our intervention program, I can move at my students’ pace, and I have the flexibility to give them additional practice on the concepts they struggle with.”

She began her career as a third-grade educator but now works with students from kindergarten to fifth grade. She shares that sometimes her older students can become defeated when they have struggled for extended time. The most rewarding part of her job is encouraging these students and watching their hard work lead them from defeated to successful readers.

“I get to tell students that nothing is wrong with them, they just need to try a method that appeals to their learning abilities,” says George.

This growth-mindset and enthusiasm makes George as asset to her school and fellow educators. She’s part of her school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) site team, and she revamped the Response to Intervention (RTI) program — a vital framework designed to deliver high-quality education to students who struggle and to mitigate potential learning challenges.

George organizes data meetings with classroom teachers to assess individual needs and create pathways for success. She spearheads parent university sessions, during which she provides effective strategies for families to reinforce subject matter covered at school and hosts family literacy nights to support families in enhancing their children’s learning at home. 

These practices were cemented during her master’s program at the University of South Carolina. While she was drawn to the online program so that she could further her education while staying in the classroom, the practical nature of the program also appealed to her.

“I was able to use my research and materials from my graduate program and immediately apply them in my own classroom,” says George.

George’s biggest hope is that beyond the perks of this incredible award, people will take away how rewarding education is as a career. She admits it can be a tough job, but ultimately teachers receive so much from watching students grow.

About the Milken Educator Award:

Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the honor includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that the recipient may use however they choose. The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett presented the Award on behalf of the Milken Family Foundation. 

• The $25,000 cash award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children. 
• Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy.Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs. 
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels.