Goals of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards program include honoring and rewarding outstanding K–12 educators for the quality of their teaching, their professional leadership, their engagement with families and the community, and their potential for even greater contributions to the healthy development of children. Goals also include focusing public attention on the importance of excellent educators and encouraging able, caring and creative people to choose the challenge, service and adventure of teaching as a career.
Based on guidelines established by the Foundation, participating states' departments of education appoint blue-ribbon committees that recommend candidates for selection. Identification and selection procedures are confidential, and the program does not include a formal nomination or application procedure.
History Teacher Excel Academy Charter High School
In East Boston, ninth grade history teacher Elizabeth Metts is shaping how students experience the subject. At Excel Academy Charter High School, Metts leads a flipped, self-paced classroom rooted in hands-on learning. Students engage in gallery walks, debates, individualized student work, and research projects, with frequent feedback and learning pods that promote ownership of their progress.
Ms. Metts accommodates the needs of all students by leading a differentiated classroom and creating an environment where they feel seen and are held accountable to high standards of excellence. Her innovative strategies, including "Writing Wednesdays" and "Map Analysis Thursdays," build critical thinking and academic confidence. Since her arrival, student participation in AP World History has doubled-developing a vibrant group of learners who not only immerse themselves in the evolution of civilizations, cultures, and social advances around the world, but also gain an appreciation for their place in it. Ms. Metts' classroom welcomes students in between periods and long after the bell rings, and alumni often return to demonstrate her impact on their lives.
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Last Updated: July 7, 2026