Victoria Lightfoot is overjoyed to hear her name announced as a Milken Educator Award recipient at a school assembly May 6. | A+ Schools of North Carolina/Twitter
Victoria Lightfoot is overjoyed to hear her name announced as a Milken Educator Award recipient at a school assembly May 6. | A+ Schools of North Carolina/Twitter
Millbrook Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh can claim they have one of the best teachers in the United States.
Victoria Lightfoot earned the Milken Educator Award, which was presented to her May 6. She was one of 60 teachers to receive the honor nationally and one of two in North Carolina, according to a CBS 17 report.
"It’s a complete shock, but it’s a pleasure to serve our students,” Lightfoot told CBS 17.
School administrators kept the presentation a secret.
“I was told we had an assembly today to see some awesome third graders and out of the blue I found out I was a recipient as one of the top teachers in the nation,” said Lightfoot, who has 12 years of teaching experience, most recently at the third-grade level.
State School Superintendent Cathy Truitt, educators from Wake County, and other Milken Award recipients attended the ceremony. They shared stories about how Lightfoot puts her students first and works hard to make sure they succeed inside and outside the classroom.
“Thank you for being a teacher,” Truitt said. “Especially with teacher appreciation week in full swing, we have to always remember. While teaching is such an incredible, day-to-day, impactful job – it is very hard work.”
The award recognizes excellence in education, according to the Milken Educator Awards website. Award winners receive $25,000 they can spend however they choose, as well as professional development and networking opportunities. Lightfoot has also been invited to a conference for Milken educators in Los Angeles.
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