One Mississippi teacher has been awarded an “Oscar of Teaching.”
Tyler Shows, a fifth-grade teacher at Petal Upper Elementary School, was surprised on Tuesday with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award. The honor goes to early-to-mid-career education professionals for their already impressive achievements, as well as for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future.
Shows received the award in front of an assembly of cheering students, colleagues, and state and local officials.
“Petal Upper Elementary School educators have experienced so many challenges recently, from a tornado in 2017 to the pandemic. Thanks to Tyler and so many other incredible teachers, they have found ways to rise above and maintain an excellent learning community for their students,” Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, said. “Tyler is building a positive legacy of education here in his hometown school district, and for that we honor him today.”
To date, nearly 2,800 Milken Educator Awards have been given out over 35 years, totaling $73 million.
