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Indiana Department of Education Announces Milken Educator Award Winner

Last updated on Friday, February 17, 2017

(INDIANAPOLIS) - In participation with the Milken Family Foundation and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), the Indiana Department of Education announced Thursday Traci Druschke of Oak Hill Elementary School as a recipient of the Milken Educator Award.

The award is provided through the Milken Family Foundation and along with national recognition, includes a $25,000 cash prize.

"Recognizing and retaining high quality teachers is pivotal to the success of Indiana students," said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. "As an educator, Traci Druschke has dedicated her professional career to ensuring her students are academically prepared and achieve at the highest level, and I consider it my privilege and distinct honor to present Traci with the Milken Educator Award."

Established by the Milken Family Foundation to attract, retain, and motivate outstanding talent to the teaching profession, the Milken Educator Awards is the nation's preeminent teacher recognition program. For 30 years, the Milken Family Foundation has provided more than $138 million in funding to the Milken Educator Awards, including $68 million in individual awards to more than 2,700 recipients. Additionally, the Milken Family Foundation provides for professional development opportunities and networking with leading education stakeholders. Since 1993, more than 60 Indiana educators have received the Milken Educator Award.

"Traci Druschke creates clear goals, analyzes data, assesses progress and reflects on her teaching. These practices propel her students to reach high and provide fellow teachers with a model to follow," said Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a 1994 recipient from Indiana. "I look forward to Traci's contributions to our Milken Educator Network and to the profession as a whole."

Druschke currently serves as a third grade educator and has taught at the elementary level for the past 13 years. Considered by her peers as a teacher-leader, Druschke is one of two Oak Hill teachers leading her class along the Whole Brain Teaching method, created by founder and California educator Chris Biffle. Through her teaching, Druschke creates an environment where her students clearly understand their educational expectations and complete third grade with a mastery of the skills and lessons taught. In addition to being a Milken Educator, Druschke is a former recipient of the First Year Teacher of the Year Award and has been selected for the EVSC Learning Leadership Cadre for two consecutive years. Druschke received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Indiana, and a Masters of Education from Indiana Wesleyan.

For more information regarding the Milken Educator Award Program, please visit: www.MilkenEducatorAwards.org

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