Longbranch Elementary School fifth grade math teacher Jenna Stewart thought she was attending a schoolwide assembly as part of a visit from Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher.
She got the surprise of her life instead.
“Educators have the most important job in our society,” Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley told those in the assembly. “Because they have the responsibility of preparing you for a bright future.”
“One of the best teachers in the country is here, in your school,” she said. “Do you want to know who it is?”
Students were enthusiastic in their assent.
“The Milken Educator Award goes to Jenna Stewart.”
Stewart received her Milken Educator Award in front of cheering students, her colleagues and visiting dignitaries.
She said she was shocked when she heard her name called.
“When my name was called out as the recipient, I think I kind of blacked out for a minute,” Stewart said with a laugh. She was quick to include the staff she works with at Longbranch, which was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 2022, and her students with her recognition.
“I couldn’t be the teacher I am today without the support from the other teachers and staff members,” she said. “And my students are what make me want to continue being a teacher. I want to get to know them beyond academics, and I want them to see that they are capable of doing anything.”
Her dedication to her students was noted by the Milken Foundation.
“Jenna Stewart shapes the minds and futures of her students, inspiring them to reach their full potential,” said Foley, who herself is a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator. “Her unwavering leadership, supportive learning environment, and strong community relationships make her a role model for students and colleagues alike.”
Longbranch Elementary School fifth-grade math teacher Jenna Stewart can’t believe she is a Milken Educator Award winner as Milken Senior Vice President Jane Foley and Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear applaud her.
The national honor, created by philanthropist Lowell Milken, recognizes exceptional educators for dedication to excellence in education.
The award includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that Stewart may use however she chooses. It recognizes the educator’s instructional excellence, professional leadership, engagement with the community and potential for even greater contributions to the healthy development of children.
She was the sole Kentucky recipient in the 2024-25 school year.
Longbranch Elementary School fifth-grade math teacher Jenna Stewart called her husband and her dad to share the good news about her surprise $25,000 Milken Educator Award. She was Kentucky’s sole 2024-25 Milken Educator.
Stewart is a strong leader who values relationships with staff and students
Stewart is passionate about every facet of her students’ growth, and her support and positive influence extend beyond scholastic activities with a focus on the whole child, according to the Milken Foundation’s biography on the teacher.
She’s involved with her students beyond mathematics. Stewart has coached “Girls on the Run,” a program that builds confidence in students as they set and achieve their goals, and complete a 5K.
Longbranch Elementary School fifth-grade math teacher Jenna Stewart answers student questions about her award as Kentucky’s sole 2024-25 Milken Educator.
She has co-chaired the Student Job Committee, a group that helps students obtain jobs. She also led the school’s Lighthouse Team, a group of students making an impact at their school from participating in morning announcements to helping others board buses, which is part of the “Leader in Me” program.
“Her sense of community is evident,” the Milken biography said. “She holds “porch pop-ins” at students’ houses at the beginning of the school year to meet and encourage them for the year ahead and frequently attends her students’ sporting events outside of school.”
At the district and community levels, Stewart has demonstrated professional leadership as well. As a teacher-leader for mathematics, she has worked to revise and build curriculum aligning with target benchmarks for the approximately 20,000 students within the district. She has represented the district for the School-Based Decision Making Council and serves on the Deeper Learning Committee and the Professional Learning Communities Committee.
Longbranch Elementary School fifth-grade math teacher Jenna Stewart celebrates with a group hug from her students. She was Kentucky’s sole 2024-25 Milken Educator.
Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Kentucky in 2014 and recently completed her master’s degree in school counseling.
Fletcher said Stewart sets high academic and behavioral standards in her fifth grade class at Longbranch Elementary where she teaches math. A quiet leader, Stewart places emphasis on relationship-building and works to instill a strong sense of community among students and their families, providing a sturdy foundation for structure and success.
“They have a profound love for her and there were so many students that were crying more than she was in her own class, so just seeing how her students reacted to her winning the award was almost as special as seeing her getting the award itself,” Fletcher said.
He said her students and the love that you could see in her eyes is what sets her apart. He said she represents teachers across the Commonwealth.
“It is teachers like Ms. Stewart who are helping us move forward with our United We Learn vision to provide vibrant learning experiences for our students,” Fletcher said. “She is a role model as she focuses on the whole child, ensuring that every student receives the care and attention they need to thrive not only in their learning, but socially and emotionally.”
In April, Stewart will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles to network with her new colleagues, as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on education.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Northern Kentucky math teacher gets national education award