Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards

Andrew Rebello

Principal and Assistant Superintendent
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School

Since Andrew Rebello began his career in education at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School as the guidance counselor, and now as principal, Diman has experienced immense, positive change. No stranger to a challenge, Rebello spent his first day as principal faced with the COVID shutdown. That day forward, he has personified effective leadership by working to provide a high-quality educational opportunity for all. He is committed to academic growth, building relationships with families, and ensuring every voice is heard and valued. Rebello successfully implemented schoolwide instructional practices to improve student learning with a focus on checks for understanding and critical thinking in every classroom. He also spearheaded academic and vocational acceleration programs, including targeted math intervention, high-dosage tutoring, a study hall for students needing additional support, and reinforcements after school and on Saturdays. As a result, Diman's students outperformed the state for English and math and recently saw the highest graduation rate in school history at 98 percent.

Rebello's open line of communication extends relationship-building beyond students and families to the community at large. He developed a best-in-class Parent Academy to facilitate family growth and partnership, created a hotline within the Academy that families can access at any time, and established a community liaison to bolster Diman's presence in the community. He attracted more than 800 students and their families for the first-ever Community Wellness Day. Through a collaboration with area universities and colleges, Rebello established a college-access pathway for students and helps seniors remain on track to graduate.

Michelle "Shelley" Terry

English/Language Arts Teacher
Plymouth North High School

Michelle "Shelley" Terry fosters a love of language, literature and learning within her students at Plymouth North High School where she teaches 9–12 grade English and language arts. This is evident as many of her students have gone on to become television journalists, producers, editors and reporters who were first exposed to the industry through her innovative course, Plymouth North News, which creates a high-quality program highlighting news within the school and town. Her course materials and instructional techniques are memorable and creatively implemented. She transformed her classroom into a restaurant with Socratic discussions at each table, invented "broadcast carpool karaoke" and staged an April Fools' Day broadcast with the superintendent as a joke. These creative approaches make her courses some of the most requested at the school, where her efforts have made academic gains for students at all levels. Her AP language classes consistently outperform the state and students needing improvement receive specialized plans for academic growth and achievement.

A leader for her students and colleagues, Terry runs summer professional development workshops to help motivate teachers, spearheaded a revision of the school's core values to incorporate transition goals, and propelled schoolwide professional development for special education, English Learners, and diversity, and equity inclusion and belonging (DEIB) strategies. She has mentored dozens of teachers throughout her career and regularly meets with other department leaders to identify and sustain best practices.