Michigan Educator Honored with “Oscar of Teaching” for Creativity in the Classroom

A tearful Stephanie Johnson makes her way to the front of the gymnasium to accept her Award as colleagues, students, dignitaries and media cheer her on.

From Michigan Department of Education: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2026/02/26/mi-teacher-honored-with-milken-educator-award

What started with a special visit from Michigan Chief Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sue Carnell turned into an exciting announcement Pine River Middle School teacher Stephanie Johnson will never forget: she is Michigan’s Milken Educator Award recipient for 2025-26!

Johnson, a seventh grade ELA teacher at PRMS, is Michigan’s 93rd recipient since The Great Lakes State joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1990. Situated in Osceola County in Northern Lower Michigan, just south of Cadillac, Pine River Area Middle School in Leroy serves 274 students in grades 4–7 in a close-knit, student-centered learning environment.

“I am proud that Stephanie Johnson is representing Michigan’s outstanding educators as a winner of a Milken Educator Award,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “I enjoyed learning about her dedication to putting her Students First, her creativity in teaching English language arts, and her reputation for being one of the last people to leave school events. She is very deserving of national recognition.”

Read more about Johnson and the Milken Educator Award from MDE’s news release.

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