West Goshen Elementary teacher Aimee Schade is one of only 35 teachers across the country to earn the Milken Educator Award. It’s a first for Goshen Community Schools.
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz surprised her with the award Thursday, along with school officials and Milken Family Foundation Co-Founder Lowell Milken. In addition to getting national recognition, Schade also earns a $25,000 cash prize.
Schade is part the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement. Her role as a TAP master teacher is to work with educators in guiding best practices to pass down to students. Part of her job is to analyze student and teacher data to find what students are and aren’t learning while coming up with plans for improvement.
Last year, West Goshen Elementary earned the highest possible value-added growth score for student achievement.
“Aimee Schade has honed her skills along the career pathway, taking on additional roles and responsibilities to excel as the teacher leader that she is today,” said Lowell Milken. “Her careful attention to the needs of students and teachers in her school and broader community serves as a model of excellence that the Milken Educator Award represents.”
“I am honored to recognize a Hoosier educator who has enriched instruction and improved outcomes for Indiana’s students,” said Ritz. “Aimee Schade embodies what it means to be a teacher-leader—supporting the professional development of her colleagues while developing innovative methods to individualize instruction for West Goshen Elementary School students. It is with great pleasure that I join the Milken Family Foundation in presenting Aimee with a Milken Educator Award today.”