Katelyn Baker, a Hamilton County elementary school teacher, recently won a $25,000 prize provided by the Milken Family Foundation.
She received the award in a surprise ceremony at Chattanooga’s Battle Academy.
State Education Commissioner Candice McQueen presented the award, along with Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a former recipient.
The unrestricted award honors early- to mid-career educators for their achievements and, more significantly, for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future. More than 2,700 of the awards, worth about $68 million, have been given in 30 years since the program began.
“Early grade educators provide our students a strong foundation from which they can grow into lifelong learners, and Katelyn Baker is working every day to help her students get there,” McQueen says.
“She is an exceptional educator who has gone above and beyond to support and encourage each student in her classroom, and I am proud to recognize her with this award.”
As the third-grade team leader, Baker represents her grade level at school meetings and oversees the grade’s day-to-day operations.
She leads team planning each week for her grade level. Baker serves on the school leadership team and has worked on committees that focus on arts integration, Socratic seminars, and multiple intelligences.
As the school’s literacy support representative, Baker is responsible for sharing key literacy information from the district with her school.
She leads best practices sessions for intermediate teachers and mentors student teachers from local universities.
“Early in her career, Katelyn Baker has established herself as an effective and compassionate teacher leader and mentor,” Foley says.
Baker is known for her ability to provide students options from which they can choose their learning activities and offers multiple assessment options to measure a student’s understanding.
In Tennessee, 64 educators have been recognized since the Milken program began in the state in 1992.