Press Releases
Lowell Milken Surprises DeSoto Parish Hometown Hero Charday Wilson with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
Math and science master teacher will join national network of 3,000 pioneering professionals working to shape the future of education
December 5, 2024
Santa Monica, Calif. — Charday Wilson, you are a $25,000 Milken Educator Award recipient! This afternoon, Milken Educator Awards Founder Lowell Milken delivered Wilson, a Logansport High School math and science master teacher, the surprise of a lifetime. The LHS alumna walked up to accept the prestigious honor as everything started to crystalize: The assembly with State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley was in her honor.
"Charday Wilson is a strong instructional leader, caring mentor, and dedicated member of her community," said Lowell Milken. "As a product of Logansport High School, Charday understands the school's goals and needs intrinsically and works with students and staff every step of the away to meet them. I look forward to the useful contributions she will bring to the national Milken Educator Award Network."
Wilson's return to Logansport, where she was born and raised, has been nothing short of inspirational. An LHS student herself, she advanced to become a successful collegiate athlete and first-generation college graduate. Now Wilson works tirelessly to coach teachers, educate students, and contribute overall to shaping Logansport's positive academic landscape. She was surprised with her unrestricted $25,000 Milken Educator Award in front of cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media: the very community that raised her.
"A foundation of any successful education system is its teachers. Today, we honor Charday Wilson who has gone above and beyond, setting the standard for excellence in her schools," said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. "Her commitment to empowering fellow educators across the district has sparked growth and collaboration that has benefited the entire parish."
Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," the Milken Educator Awards inspire educators, students and entire communities to "Celebrate, Elevate and Activate" the K-12 teaching profession and encourage young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career. By the end of this season, more than $75 million in individual financial prizes and more than $145 million will have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall.
Outstanding educators like Wilson are not aware of their candidacy for the Award. Recipients are sought out while early- to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award.
Wilson is the third and final Milken Educator to receive the honor in Louisiana for the 2024-25 school year and the 53rd recipient in the Pelican State. Kyle Cook of Maplewood Middle School in Calcasieu Parish received his Award earlier this morning, Dec. 5, and Ashley Davis of Central Intermediate School in the Central Community School System was recognized with the Award yesterday, Dec. 4.
More About Charday Wilson
A Community Fixture: Charday Wilson embodies what it means to be a "hometown hero." Born and raised in Logansport, Wilson's plans did not initially include becoming a master teacher at her alma mater, Logansport High School (LHS). She went on to play collegiate softball, became the first in her family to graduate from college, and planned a career in sociology. Then, she returned to become a math specialist and coach at LHS — and the rest is history. Now Wilson proudly supports the continued growth of both teachers and students at LHS and beyond.
Effective Instructional Leadership: Through the district's partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Wilson expands opportunities for professional growth in her role as a K-12 master teacher for math and science at LHS and ensures efficient, data-driven instructional strategies are upheld schoolwide. She works with teachers to create individualized "game plans" needed for lesson pacing, classroom management, formative assessments, co-teaching, learning walks, and more. Wilson encourages collaboration through learning clusters and observations between classrooms. Her knowledge of math curriculum and experience as a former classroom teacher come in handy when she fills in for lessons, where she fosters an engaging atmosphere using math games like decimal Jeopardy, involving students in problem modeling, and empowering them to utilize success criteria in their problem-solving. Wilson’s coaching efforts contributed greatly to Logansport's growth from a 'B' school to an 'A' school in 2022-23, which was maintained in 2023-24.
Leading Fellow Leaders: A committed model of excellence, Wilson has contributed to teacher growth and development throughout LHS and the district. She serves as an LHS instructional leadership team member, teacher mentor, calendar committee representative, LHS middle school student council sponsor, and PBIS committee member. Within the district, Wilson has served on the new teacher training committee, selection committee, and multiple curriculum development committees. Additionally, she teaches a summer professional development course on classroom management, attends new math and science trainings, and frequents conferences like the Louisiana Teacher Leader Summit, NIET National Conference, and NIET Summer Institute.
Around-The-Clock Involvement: A lifelong athlete, Wilson supports students outside of the classroom as a junior high girls basketball coach. In the community, Wilson works with youth at St. Luke's Baptist Church, and offers free tutoring to students of all ages.
Education: Wilson earned her Bachelor of Science in sociology from Louisiana Tech in 2012.
The Milken Educator Award Reaps Lifelong Benefits
- The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children's or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
- Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs.
- The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April 2025, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education.
- Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels.
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About the Milken Educator Awards: "The Future Belongs to the Educated"
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early- to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The Milken Family Foundation celebrates more than 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.