Licensure
Column Title
Column Title
Column Title
Haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Milken Educator Award
Milken Educator Award
The Milken Family Foundation (MFF) saw the importance of recognizing great educators. They developed the Milken Educator Award that provides public recognition and financial rewards to outstanding educators, furnishes the opportunity to participate in on-going professional development state and nationally, and encourages young people to consider a career in education.
New Mexico joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1992. Since the program began, 70 New Mexico educators have received $25,000 each for a total of $1,750,000. Many of the Milken Educators serve in leadership roles in New Mexico education. Visit the MFF to learn of their many projects.
2025 Milken Educator — Montana Hagler from Lovington High School
Lovington High School  Lovington, NM   January 07, 2026
From left: Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Educator Awards; New Mexico Public Education Department Communications Administrator Beverly Friedman; recipient Montana Hagler (NM ’25); Lovington Municipal Schools Superintendent Pamela Quinones; New Mexico Public Education Department Deputy Secretary of Student Support Services Yvonne Garcia; and Lovington High School Principal Trey Williams III.
New Mexico Milken Educators
| Name | School | City | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana Hagler | Lovington High School | Lovington | 2025 |
| Rashinda Billie | Kirtland Elementary School | Kirtland | 2024 |
| Magali Turner | Ruben S. Torres Elementary School | Deming | 2023 |
| Ashli Knoell | V. Sue Cleveland High School | Rio Rancho | 2023 |
| Christopher Nunez | Sonoma Elementary School | Las Cruces | 2022 |
| Tyler Finch | Loving High School | Loving | 2021 |
| Gabrielle Kahawai | Gonzales Community School | Santa Fe | 2021 |
| Lacy Rivera | Los Lunas High School | Los Lunas | 2019 |
| Silvia Miranda | Mesa Elementary | Clovis | 2018 |
| Melanie Alfaro | Deming Intermediate School | Deming | 2017 |
| Melissa Kovac | Amy Biehl Community School at Rancho Viejo | Santa Fe | 2016 |
| Colin DeGroot | The ASK Academy | Rio Rancho | 2015 |
| Shannon Ryan | Lavaland Elementary School | Albuquerque | 2014 |
| Andrew Cook | Manzano High School | Albuquerque | 2013 |
| James Dickerson | César Chávez Elementary | Las Cruces | 2010 |
| Tammy Dunham | Van Buren Middle School | Albuquerque | 2009 |
| Crystal McCoin | Route 66 Elementary School | Moriarty | 2008 |
| Jesus Trujillo | Hagerman High School | Hagerman | 2007 |
| Reid C. Nunn | McCollum Elementary School | Albuquerque | 2006 |
| Graciela Marquez | Anthony Elementary School | Anthony | 2006 |
| Carlos J. Ortega Maes | Washington Middle School | Albuquerque | 2005 |
| Jessamyn Young | Robert F. Kennedy Charter School | Albuquerque | 2005 |
| Javier Marquez Milo | Martin Elementary School | Deming | 2004 |
| Sheri Davis | Aspen Elementary School | Los Alamos | 2004 |
| Katarina Sandoval | South Valley Academy | Albuquerque | 2003 |
| Suzanne Harper | Colinas Del Norte Elementary School | Rio Rancho | 2002 |
| Charlotte P. Begay | Wingate Elementary School | Fort Wingate | 2002 |
| Paula Tafoya Nunez | Cleveland Middle School | Albuquerque | 2001 |
| Danielle Calvillo | Valencia Elementary School | Los Lunas | 2000 |
| Patricia A. Vigil Castillo | Rio Grande Elementary School | Belen | 2000 |
| Dr. Judith Tanner | Magdalena Elementary School | Magdalena | 2000 |
| Spankie Lou Bassett | Bernalillo Middle School | Bernalillo | 1999 |
| Sarah Garde | Los Lunas Middle School | Los Lunas | 1999 |
| Delphina John | Shiprock High School | Shiprock | 1999 |
| Thomas Ryan | Del Norte High School | Albuquerque | 1999 |
| Juliette Romero Benavidez | Manzano Vista Middle School | Tome | 1998 |
| Debra Hardy Gurule | Cuba Elementary School | Cuba | 1998 |
| Mary McAfee | Zuni Elementary Magnet School | Albuquerque | 1998 |
| Deborah Pardue | Yucca Elementary School | Artesia | 1998 |
| Gloria Basden | Gadsden Middle School | Anthony | 1997 |
| Lorenzo Gonzales | Cuba High School | Cuba | 1997 |
| Linda Hale | Grants High School | Grants | 1997 |
| Rick Stewart | Artesia High School | Artesia | 1997 |
| Sylvia Flores | Hermosa Elementary School | Artesia | 1996 |
| Dr. Elvira Bitsoi Largie | Naschitti Elementary School | Sheep Springs | 1996 |
| Vicky Lester | Pajarito Elementary School | Albuquerque | 1996 |
| Martina Marquez | Mount Taylor Elementary School | Grants | 1996 |
| Dr. Mary Lou Anderson | Cleveland Middle School | Albuquerque | 1995 |
| Lawrence D’Anza | Eldorado High School | Albuquerque | 1995 |
| Debbie Henry | Sierra Middle School | Roswell | 1995 |
| James Lafferty, Jr. | Robert H. Goddard High School | Roswell | 1995 |
| Noah Rodriguez | De Vargas Middle School | Santa Fe | 1995 |
| Sylvia Mills | Zuni Elementary Magnet School | Albuquerque | 1994 |
| Mary Helen Ortiz | Pecos Elementary | Pecos | 1994 |
| Marian Pelking | East Picacho Elementary School | Picacho | 1994 |
| Thomas Schnalzer | Jose Barrios Elementary School | Silver City | 1994 |
| Glojean Todacheene | Mesa Elementary School | Shiprock | 1994 |
| John Burgess | Clayton High School | Clayton | 1993 |
| Carlos Chavez | Rio Grande High School | Albuquerque | 1993 |
| Pat Graff | La Cueva High School | Albuquerque | 1993 |
| Ramona Lucero Salazar | Bernalillo Middle School | Bernalillo | 1993 |
| John Spradling | Artesia High School | Artesia | 1993 |
| Larry Torres | Taos High School | Taos | 1993 |
| Milton Baca | West Mesa High School | Albuquerque | 1992 |
| Joe Fresquez | Hernandez Elementary School | Hernandez | 1992 |
| Dr. Elaine Hampton | Zia Middle School | Las Cruces | 1992 |
| Marvin Martin | Rich South Campus High School | Richton Park | 1992 |
| Nola Miller | Washington Avenue Elementary School | Roswell | 1992 |
| Sharon Morgan | Tome Elementary School | Los Lunas | 1992 |