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aMAzing Educators

Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards

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.

2024 Massachusetts Milken Educators

2024 Massachusetts Milken Educator, Andrew Rebello

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.

2024 Massachusetts Milken Educator, Andrew Rebello

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.

Past Massachusetts Milken Educators

2023

  • Leigh Beson, Reading Interventionist
    Dighton Elementary School, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District

2022

  • Taylor Thai, Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher of Multilingual Students
    Donovan Elementary School, Randolph

2019

  • Margaret Hersey, English Teacher
    Springfield Honors Academy, Springfield

2018

  • Jennifer Gordon, Librarian
    Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School, Cambridge

2017

  • Dan Adler, Science Teacher
    UP Academy Leonard, Lawrence

2015

  • Michelle Ryan, History Teacher
    Randolph High School, Randolph

2014

  • Anthony Petrelis, Teacher
    McGlynn Elementary School, Medford

  • 2013

  • James Moonan, Teacher
    Pierce Middle School, Milton

  • 2012

  • Allan Cameron, Principal
    Deerfield Elementary School, Westwood

  • 2011

  • Derek Vandegrift, History Teacher
    Waltham High School, Waltham

  • 2010

  • Roni Gold, Teacher
    Rebecca Johnson School, Springfield

  • 2009

  • Rebecca Duda, Teacher
    Lakeview Junior High School, Dracut

  • 2008

  • Chris Louis Sardella, Teacher
    Marion E. Zeh Elementary School, Northborough

  • 2007

  • Anne Clark, Curriculum and Special
    Education Coordinator; ELA Teacher,
    Boston Arts Academy, Boston

  • Matthew Dugan, Teacher
    Madison Park Technical Vocational High, Boston

  • 2006

  • Nicholas Leonardos, Principal
    South Elementary School, Stoneham

  • Amanda Sequin, Teacher
    Curtis Guild Elementary, East Boston

  • 2005

  • Thabiti Akil Brown, Academic Dean
    Codman Academy Charter, Boston

  • Jasmine Lellock, Teacher
    Randolph High, Randolph

  • 2004

  • Michael Aw, Teacher
    Memorial Elementary, Hopedale

  • Holly Concannon, Teacher
    RJ Murphy, Boston

  • 2003

  • Michael Barton, Teacher
    Greater Lowell Voc. Tech. School,

  • Timothy Farmer, Principal
    Remington Middle School, Franklin

  • 2002

  • Mary Cowhey, Teacher
    Jackson Street School, Northampton

  • Michael Stanton, Teacher
    Ralph Talbot Primary, Weymouth

  • 2001

  • June Eressy, Teacher
    University Park Campus, Worcester

  • Catherine Latham, Teacher
    Lynn English High

  • Edward Noonan, Teacher
    Dorchester High, Boston

  • 2000

  • Holli Armstrong, Teacher
    Old Post Road Elementary, Walpole

  • Lucille Ferragamo, Teacher
    Whelan Elementary, Revere

  • Mary Meade-Montaque, Principal
    Roosevelt Elementary, Worcester

  • Elaine Swain, Teacher
    R. J. Murphy Elementary, Boston

  • 1999

  • Jim DeProfio, Teacher
    Lowell High School

  • Chuck McAfee, Principal
    Clarence Edwards Middle, Boston

  • Karin Orbon, Teacher
    North Brookfield High

  • Janice Smith, Teacher
    Weymouth Junior High

  • 1998

  • Wayne Boisselle, Teacher
    Dawson Elementary, Holden

  • William Henderson, Principal
    Patrick O'Hearn, Boston

  • Sue Pandiani, Teacher
    Ella F. Hoxie, Bourne

  • Sheila Smith-McAdams, Teacher
    Winthrop Elementary, Ipswich

  • 1997

  • Patricia Clem, Principal
    Powder Mill Middle, Southwick

  • Michael Contompasis, Headmaster
    Boston Latin, Boston

  • Maria Ferrandini, Teacher
    Charles C. Cashman Elementary, Amesbury

  • Alice Garcia, Teacher
    City View Elementary, Worcester

  • Kevin McArdle, Principal
    Heath Brook School, Tewksbury

  • David Vito, Teacher
    North Attleborough High

  • Joan Vohl Hamilton, Teacher
    Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle, Chicopee

  • Alma Wright, Teacher
    William Monroe Trotter Elementary, Boston

  • Last Updated: November 6, 2023

     
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