‘She’s the best teacher in the world!’
Published: October 11, 2006
Emilia Bankston doesn’t like spending time away from her third-grade classroom, so she probably didn’t relish the idea of a schoolwide assembly early Tuesday afternoon.
But the assembly was just a ruse.
The reason students, teachers, and state and district education officials gathered in the auditorium at West Elementary School was so Bankston could receive a national education award. She looked dazed as her name was announced as the recipient of this year’s Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.
“I’m very honored,” she said when the clapping and cheering stopped after several minutes. “Without your support we wouldn’t have the school we do.”
The Milken Family Foundation, based in Santa Monica, Calif., gives out awards each year in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The other Mississippi winner was Jennifer Chandler of Pierce Street Elementary in Tupelo.
Richard Sandler, from the Milken Family Foundation, and state Superintendent Hank Bounds presented the award to Bankston.
Both winners received $25,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., next spring for the national education conference presented by the foundation.
Bankston, 35, has been teaching at West for 10 years, ever since she graduated from college. She received her bachelor’s in education from the University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s in education from William Carey.
“She’s the best teacher in the world!” her students proclaimed as they clung to her after the ceremony.
Bankston said she wasn’t really sure why she received the award, but she definitely appreciates the honor.
“I think I’m always willing to strive for excellence in life and education, and I try to teach that to my students,” she said, also crediting her fellow teachers and principal for their help.
“At West we work as a team, and we’ve been fortunate to have good teachers here.”
Principal Scott Powell said he wasn’t surprised at all that Bankston was chosen.
“She has an intense passion and dedication to the kids,” he said. “I’ve never known a teacher who gets to know her kids the way she does.”
Mississippi has participated in the foundation’s educator program since 1991, and since then 59 teachers have received the award.
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