An OCU alumna was recently granted a teaching award.
Hailey Couch, 2013 education alumna, was given an award by the Milken Family Foundation for excellence in teaching.
The foundation has been active for 30 years. It is “the Oscars of teaching,” according to Teacher magazine.
Couch said the program is targeted toward early-career educators.
“I had no idea about this program,” Couch said. “They ended up telling me they had been watching and observing my work.”
Couch teaches kindergarten at Madison Elementary in Norman, and has been teaching there for four years. She said her nominator was anonymous.
“I just assumed it was a former employer or principal,” Couch said.
The Milken Family Foundation awards $25,000 to 40 educators worldwide. Couch is the only recipient from Oklahoma this year.
“Because I was the only one for the state, I get to go to the Oklahoma State Board meeting in December,” Couch said.
As a separate trip, the 40 award recipients will go to New Orleans for the Milken Educator Awards Forum in March.
Madeline Stevens, education senior, said she’s proud to be from the same program as Couch.
“It’s definitely inspiring and encouraging as a future educator that good teachers really do make a difference in the education of future generations,” Stevens said.
“I’m proud to be from the same program because I know that the passion and drive I have for teaching has been fostered and supported, just as hers was, by the phenomenal professors in the department.”
Couch said she is grateful for the Milken award.
“I’m really blessed and thankful for the foundation, I hope I don’t let them down,” Couch said.
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