By DEON YOUD
A Provo School District administrator is $25,000 richer after she received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award Thursday.
Rosemarie Smith, principal of Timpanogos Elementary School, was honored in front of her students at an assembly Thursday morning. She was not aware that she would be recieving the honor.
State Superintendent of Schools, Scott W. Bean, presented the award to Smith. Before he announced the award, he discussed with the students the importance of the award and challenged them to always do their best at school.
Bean said these awards are a tribute to excellence and a tribute to all those who dedicate themselves to education.
“The people who receive the awards are representative of all the teachers, all the administrators, and all the other educators,” Bean said.
A tearful Smith accepted the award and paid tribute to her faculty, staff and students.
“All that I am in education is because I care about kids,” Smith said.
Smith’s most recent contribution to Timpanogos Elementary was the development of a new computer and technology lab.
Smith taught school in Jordan School District before coming to Provo. She has been principal at Timpanogos for 16 years.
Recipients of the Milken award are chosen because of their excellence in the education profession. A state appointed committee selects educators who demonstrate creativity in curriculum presentation, teach students skills to survive in the real world, incorporate technology into the classroom and encourage students to build character and self-confidence.
Milken Award winners receive a $25,000 grant to use at their own discretion. The foundation does not require that the money be spent in the school.
The Milken Foundation began honoring educators in 1985. It grants teachers and administrators nearly $4 million annually.
In addition to the money, Milken Educators have the opportunity to attend workshops and conferences throughout the year. They also receive a virtual workspace on the Internet.
This is the first year Utah has been involved with the Milken Foundation. Six Utah teachers will receive the award this year. In the future, four Utah educators will be honored annually.
Smith said she didn’t know yet how she would spend the money, but her first thoughts were with the new technology lab at Timpanogos.
