RSSWest Springfield teacher wins Milken award
It is known as the Oscars of teaching by Teacher Magazine. For Fairfax County science teacher Ann Wong of West Springfield High School, it's validation for all her hard work.
Wong was recently named a winner of the Milken Educator Award by the Milken Family Foundation. She is one of 53 educators nationwide selected to receive the award along with a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize.
"It was a huge surprise and honor to receive it," Wong said. "It has been an exciting week."
The award announcement was made at a surprise assembly last week attended by Patricia Wright, state superintendent of public instruction, and Milken Family Foundation representative Jane Foley.
Nominees for the Milken Educator Awards are recommended by a state blue-ribbon panel. Wong is currently in her 16th year of teaching in Fairfax County.
"I believe in always setting high expectations for my students, no matter what level class they are in -- regular, honors [or] AP," Wong said. "This is the second greatest thing to happen in my professional career, the first being hired. ... This helps to validate all the hard work and energy that I put into my job on a regular basis and clearly tells me I chose the right path for myself."
On how she's going to spend her cash prize, Wong said, "I am the mother of three small boys and look to save the money for their education. I also plan to donate a portion to my school's science department."
West Springfield High principal Paul Wardinski said, "In her classroom, Ann creates an environment of excitement and the expectation of working hard, proven by the number of students who always stop by to see her after school for additional assistance on their own. It is evident by the number of students who sign up each year for AP Biology and are so successful on their AP exams."
He said the popularity of AP Biology has caused the school to open an additional section.
"She sees beyond the confines of her own classroom and conceptualizes the big picture of how a high school operates, her role as an educator and school leader, the role of her students, and her specific program in that operation," Wardinski said.