LEWISTON — After her name was called out, jubilant Montello Elementary School teacher Kristie Clark ran to the podium. Delighted students screamed and applauded.

“What a way to start a week! Woo-hoo Montello!” Clark cried out during a K-3 student assembly.

During the surprise assembly students were told they’d soon learn about a secret: Clark is the winner of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award for excellence in teaching. Only one teacher in Maine will receive the award this year, according to the Maine Department of Education. The announcement was made by Education Commissioner Angela Faherty.

As a Milken Award winner, Clark becomes a model teacher for Maine and the nation, wins an all-expense paid trip to California in April, and receives a cash award of $25,000.

After recovering from the surprise, Clark thanked many, including “the Milken family for this tremendous honor and award. I couldn’t be the teacher I am today without support of my family, without support of outstanding colleagues that I work with every day at this school.”

She thanked her second-graders, “who share their learning adventure with me every day. You make my job easy because you’re so awesome. Thank you!”

Her students came forward and gathered around Clark as she held an oversized check of $25,000 from Milken Foundation founder Lowell Milken.

“I’m flabbergasted. I had no idea,” Clark said. The award “really could go to any teacher in this building.” She hadn’t had time to think about how she’ll use the money, but said she’d like some of it to benefit students.

“I wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for my kids. One of our initiatives at this school is to let children know how important it is to graduate from high school and go onto school after. It would be really neat to do some kind of scholarship fund.”

Before Clark’s name was revealed during the assembly, Maine’s education commissioner said actors and athletes are honored with fame and awards like MVPs and Oscars. But teachers have the most important job, Faherty said.

The Milken Award could go to many great teachers, “but we have to find an individual who is representative of all the excellence at the Montello school,” Faherty said.

Among the reasons Clark was chosen for the award is her enthusiasm and outstanding teaching skills, how she encourages all of her students to do their best, Faherty said. Clark is in her 20th year as a teacher. She has leadership roles at Montello, a school of 760 students, many who are immigrants learning to speak English. Clark is the grade-level leader for grade two, and her success is documented by the success of her students, the commissioner said.

“Her students perform at high levels not only because she believes they can, but because she gets them to believe in themselves,” Faherty said.

Clark lives in Readfield with her husband, Bob, and sons Bailey and Robbie. She has a classroom of 25. She said she tries to make her class feel safe and inviting so students feel comfortable taking risks in learning.

She works to individualize lessons by finding out exactly where her students are academically in reading and math, and build on what they know. “That’s the key to taking them as far as they need to go for the next grade,” she said.

“It’s an honor to be part of children’s education,” Clark said. “It’s an adventure every day . . . I love it. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I used to teach my sister when she was a little girl.”

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

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