For immediate release
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Contacts: Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115, 781-605-4419, jreis@doe.mass.edu Lynne Russo 818-903-6079, lynneerusso@gmail.com
Cambridge Educator Receives National Milken Award
CAMBRIDGE – A Cambridge elementary school librarian today was surprised with a prestigious Milken Educator Award, which comes with an unrestricted financial award of $25,000.
Jennifer Gordon, a librarian at Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School, became the state’s 45th Milken Award winner. She is the only Massachusetts recipient in 2018-19, and one of up to 40 recipients across the country this school year. The Milken Award recognizes exemplary elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in education.
“Congratulations to Ms. Gordon on this prestigious recognition for her impressive work as a Massachusetts educator,” saidGovernor Charlie Baker. “We are fortunate to have librarians like Ms. Gordon who can enrich entire schools by bringing learning to life with activities and opportunities outside the typical classroom.”
“Ms. Gordon represents a wide range of skills that school librarians can contribute to their schools,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Her clear dedication to making a difference in the lives of all the students she works with makes her an incredibly worthy recipient of such an award.”
“It’s wonderful to see educators like Ms. Gordon become so fully a part of their students’ lives, from her specialized knowledge of books to leading the school’s Adventure Club,” Education Secretary James Peyser said. “I’m glad to see the Milken Foundation highlight her work.”
During an assembly at the school today, Ms. Gordon was presented with her award by Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a Milken recipient herself, Secretary Peyser, and Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.
“Ms. Gordon is a great representative of librarians and media specialists across the Commonwealth who make huge contributions to their students’ educations,” Commissioner Riley said. “It’s a pleasure to see all of her efforts recognized.”
Ms. Gordon posts students’ book reviews ad decorated book jackets outside the library, encourages her students to write to authors, and collaborates with Banneker’s reading and English language acquisition teachers on curriculum and resources. She works with small reading groups of varying levels, runs book clubs for younger students, chairs the specialists’ cluster team, leads professional development, mentors new teachers, and works with colleagues on initiatives including kinesthetic learning. She also leads the Adventure Club, which takes fifth- and sixth-graders on monthly outdoor excursions, and serves as a chaperone for the school’s annual sixth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. In addition, she created a makerspace, coordinates field day and the daily morning announcements, and is a member of the school band.
Ms. Gordon, a Watertown resident, received a bachelor’s degree in English from Worcester State College in 2000 and a master’s degree in library science from Simmons College in 2002. Ms. Gordon has worked at Banneker for 17 years.
“Jennifer Gordon knows that opening a book can be like opening a golden door of opportunity, prompting young minds to imagine the future they may one day create,” Dr. Foley said. “Working across the educational spectrum with students of all grade levels and abilities, she strives to maximize student potential and make the world a better place one page turn at a time. She’s the kind of everyday visionary that we are proud to honor as a Milken Educator.”
The Milken Family Foundation first presented the Milken Educator Awards in 1987. Massachusetts joined the program in 1997. Since then, $1.1 million has been awarded to recipients in Massachusetts. Recipients can use their $25,000 award in any way they choose. Awards alternate yearly between elementary and secondary educators.
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