Two south Louisiana teachers earned the national Milken Educator Award and a cash prize of $25,000 on Tuesday. The winners were Christine Bayard and Derrick Winn. New Iberia math teacher, Christine Bayard, won the award for her innovative approach to transforming her classroom into real-world environments including outer space.
“I decorated the classroom like space. We had the lights and the planets. I came to school dressed in a full astronaut costume with one of my kids ride on horses. And we actually spent time calculating how long will it take to ride the horse to the moon.”
Bayard, who teaches at Johnston-Hopkins Elementary, learned of the award during an assembly attended by Milken Educator Award Founder Lowell Milken and State superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley.
After getting the surprise of her life, the UL Lafayette graduate says her commitment to invest in education has paid off.
“I’ve never been recognized on this kind of level before. And to see something so great come of something that I’ve been working on for 10 years is just amazing.”
Winn, a third-grade math and science teacher in Baton Rouge, was recognized for his ability to captivate his young students through mind-blogging math challenges. The Crestworth Elementary educator was unaware of his candidacy for the award…
“You kind of imagine things like this happening. And when it does happen, it almost like I want to pinch myself. Do I need to wake up right now? I hope I don’t wake up but its an awesome feeling and I’m very appreciative.”
Bayard and Winn joins a group of 74 teachers who have been recognized as a Milken Educator from across the country during the 2023-2024 school year.
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