Milken Educator

Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera joined students, teachers, and administrators at Slippery Rock High School on October 31, 2017, to surprise educator Melanie Cole with the 2017 Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 check.

Melanie Cole, Transition Coordinator and Special Education Teacher at Slippery Rock High School, has transformed the school district’s culture and climate, and has championed her students to succeed through postgraduate career placements. She serves as the National Honor Society coordinator and runs campaigns raising funds and awareness for autism and special education inclusion.

Melanie is the only educator to earn this distinction in Pennsylvania in 2017.

For more than 30 years, the Milken Foundation has recognized outstanding teachers throughout the nation, and to date, has bestowed the Milken Educator Award on more than 2,700 educators. Each award recipient receives an unrestricted $25,000 award as well as continued networking and professional development opportunities.

Learn more about the Milken Educator Awards