Teacher Surprised With $25K, National Honor at Assembly

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Oxon Hill Middle School teacher Angela Malone was surprised Wednesday with a cash prize of $25,000 when she was named a recipient of the 2015-16 Milken Educator Award.

She is the only educator in the state of Maryland to receive the honor this season, according to a news release from Prince George’s County Public Schools.

Malone was presented the award by Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Interim Maryland State Superintendent Dr. Jack R. Smith, Prince George’s County Board of Education Chairman Dr. Segun Eubanks, Board Member Edward Burroughs III and Prince George’s County Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell were also present for the presentation.

Surrounded by fellow educators, students and Oxon Hill Middle School Principal Wendell Coleman, Malone was lauded for her exceptional work that serves as a model for the state and the nation. Malone is the science department chair at Oxon Hill Middle School and she also teaches seventh- and eighth-grade Honors Science.

“We’ve known all along that we have exceptional teachers in PGCPS and it is outstanding to be recognized on a national scale by such a prestigious organization. Congratulations to Angela Malone on this wonderful honor. It is well-deserved and I am very proud of her and all of the hard-working educators in our district,” said Maxwell.

“Angela is a pro at marrying the arts with science,” said Foley. “As a trained actor, singer and dancer, she brings unique talents to her classroom and can relate to all students. She is also respected as a leader at Oxon Hill in its transition from STEM to STEAM. We are thrilled to welcome her into the Milken Educator family. I anticipate a wonderful future for this charismatic educator.”

Malone is among up to 40 educators who will receive the prestigious national honor during the Milken Family Foundation coast-to-coast tour across the country during the 2015-16 Awards season. The Milken Educator Awards, conceived by the MFF to attract, retain and motivate outstanding talent to the teaching profession, is the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program, dubbed the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher magazine.

Since 1987, the foundation has devoted more than $137 million in funding to the Milken Educator Awards, including over $66 million in individual Awards to more than 2,600 recipients, plus powerful professional development opportunities and networking with leading education stakeholders.