Teacher With 'Greatest Job' Wins $25K Education Award

SILVER SPRING, MD — East Silver Spring Elementary School teacher Brian Quinn shuffled into the gymnasium Friday morning for what he thought was a school assembly. Little did Quinn — or students and faculty — know he'd be accepting a $25,000 Milken Educator Award on live TV and in front of the entire school.

"I'm in shock. My hands are shaking," Quinn told reporters after the ceremony.

Considered the "Oscars of Teaching," the Milken Educator Award is given to successful teachers for their past accomplishments and their promise for the future, according to the Milken Family Foundation website. The award comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.

Quinn is the only teacher in Maryland to receive the award this year. He is one of up to 40 educators to receive the Milken Educator Award for the 2018-2019 year.

In addition to money and national recognition, this year's recipients will attend a Milken Educator Forum in New Orleans and join a network of more than 2,700 top teachers, principals, and specialists, the foundation said.

Educators cannot apply for this award and do not know they are under consideration. Candidates are selected through a confidential process and reviewed by state blue ribbon panels appointed by state departments of education, the foundation said. The Milken Family Foundation makes the final decision.

"If mathematics is the music of reason, Brian Quinn is a gifted conductor bringing the best out of his fourth-grade ensemble," Jane Foley, the Milken Family Foundation vice president, said. "As a strong proponent of project-based learning, technology integration and smart data, he brings math to all of his learners so they can maximize their potential. We commend Quinn's creativity, drive and dedication, qualities we value deeply in Milken Educators."

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Friday morning's surprise assembly brought a number of legislators, educators, and administrators together — including U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md), Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon, and Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Jack Smith.

"We just are so happy for the school, for the individual, and for all the staff members here because, obviously, Mr. Quinn is an exceptional teacher and is surrounded by really strong, exceptional people," said Smith. "And that collective work is amazing. And so it's both a recognition of his individual work and of the collective work of the school. And it's amazing to have that across our county."

Quinn graduated from Salisbury University in 2006 with a degree in elementary education. He then earned his master's degree from the University of Maryland in 2013. He studied curriculum and instruction for middle school mathematics, according to a press release.

"Why do I teach? The kids. Every day is new. It's exciting. You can't beat it. I mean, there's days where you're thinking this is the greatest job. And then you come in one day and you're just like, 'why am I doing this?' The next day you come back and you say, 'this is why I'm doing this.' It's a great day," Quinn told reporters.

"You see smiles - I think someone said a little girl was crying [during the ceremony] and that's just great. You got to love these kids. I mean, they drive you nuts some days but you still love every one of them. It's amazing," he added.

WATCH: A surprised math teacher from Silver Spring, Md learning he had just won the $25,000 Milken Educator Award. pic.twitter.com/MCgbOxwFEL
— Alessia Grunberger (@adgrunberger) November" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/adgrunberg... 2, 2018

Image via Milken Family Foundation

Video via Alessia Grunberger/Patch