Indy Math Teacher Wins $25K Award For Excellence

BROWNSBURG, IN — An Indiana math teacher was the recipient of the Milken Educator Award, an honor for teachers and faculty who excel in educating our nation's youth. The award carries a huge financial prize — $25,000.

Kristen Lents, 32, of Indianapolis, had no idea what she was in for on Tuesday. Sitting in the audience in the Harris Academy gym, full of students and educators, she was stunned when the announcer called out her name as the winner of the Milken Educator Award.

"I was totally shocked," Lents told Patch. "I felt kind of out of touch with reality... I thought 'Did they really just say my name?'"

Lents is one of 44 award winners this year, and the only one in the state of Indiana. Teacher Magazine calls the Milken Educator Awards the "Oscars of Teaching," according to a press release from Milken.

Harris Academy focuses on teaching kids "who face academic and life challenges, including teen parents, students with health issues, those who have to work to support themselves, and reluctant learners with credit deficits," the press release from Milken said.

In Lents' four years at Harris, her students earned math credit at a rate of 95 to 98 percent. Under her leadership, her students raised the mean algebra end-of-year assessment score by 39 points. How did she do it?

"I use humor. That’s a huge thing for me," she said. "I’m a positive upbeat person." Lents treats her students like individuals and takes an interest in their lives.

Also, she shows her students how math, especially algebra, is relevant to their lives. "But when will I ever need this?" kids so often ask about math. Lents showed them how relevant it can be, using a spreadsheet and some algebra magic to compare cell phone billing plans, giving her students confidence in their ability to get to the bottom of a real-world math problem.

Lents recalled one student of hers who had immense anxiety at first. "She was a really sweet girl that just struggled on some of her math skills. I would dig in with her and sit with her and help her through it."

Lents noticed the girl's confidence growing as she started to taste success. "It became more doable for her." They became close. "She's babysat my kids... she's the best babysitter in the entire world."

That student is now in college, and though she's not studying math, her enrollment in higher education and success in the classroom is why Lents does what she does.

Though she won the award, Lents is far from taking all the credit. "I mean it when I said I work with the best coworkers in the world. Cafeteria staff to administration, to daycare workers who take care of some of our kids' kids."

Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley said "Kristen Lents is a gifted teacher whose greatest gift may be reaching those who are really struggling.

"Her drive to make math relevant and rewarding to all students is the kind of dedication and service we look for in our Milken Educators. Lents' inclusive and eclectic approach is part of what makes her a world-class teacher."

If she had to give advice for fellow teachers, she would say "just really dig in deep and take note of these moments that feel fulfilling." If you notice students beginning to understand a subject, "take mental note of that... On the bad days, remember why you're doing what you're doing."

Lents is perfectly happy teaching math and has no plans to make any career changes. "I'm so happy doing what I do right now. I wake up and I love to go into my classroom."

Of her colleagues and students, Lents said "It's a beautiful family. People are there to see these kids succeed."

See the video of Lents learning she won the Milken Educator Award:

As for the $25,000 award, Lents doesn't plan on spending it on a fancy getaway or a new car. She knows how numbers work. "I'm a saver."

Article image via Milken Family Foundation