NORTH – Amanda Fair-Coles shed tears of joy when she learned she was the recipient of a national award for her efforts to further excellence in education.

Fair-Coles, a first-grade teacher at Dover Elementary School, was surprised with the Milken Educator Award – and a $25,000 cash prize – during an assembly held Friday morning at the school.

Created in 1987 by Lowell Milken, the Milken Educator Awards publicly recognize excellence in teaching not only to inspire educators, but also students and communities to “Celebrate, Elevate and Activate” the American K-12 teaching profession.

The honor has been described as the “Oscars of Teaching.” It will be presented at up to 75 schools across the nation in 2023-2024.

National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett talks with Dover Elementary School first-grade teache…

Dr. Joshua Barnett, chief executive officer of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, served as the representative for the Milken Family Foundation and presented a shocked Coles with her award.

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“The work of this educator speaks so loudly here from Dover that we’ve heard about it across the state, (and) we’ve heard about it across the entire nation because of their work with you,” Barnett said.

Amanda Fair-Coles, center, is overcome with emotion after learning she is the recipient of the Milken Educator Award. She is pictured with S.C…

Not only was Coles presented with a $25,000 check, but she also received an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum in June. She will have the chance to network with new colleagues, veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education.

Fair-Coles said she was at a loss for words.

“I’m so grateful for this award. I never would have thought. I didn’t see this coming at all, and I thank my principal for providing me with opportunities that I didn’t think I deserved. So thank you for seeing my worth,” she said, referring to Dover Elementary Principal Sylvia Williams.

The educator also thanked her colleagues at the elementary school.

“Thank you for your collaborative effort. I love working with other people. I’m a team player. I thank my students. I have a wonderful group of first-graders who I love so much. I’m committed to them and their learning. I’m just so grateful for this opportunity,” Fair-Coles said.

She also thanked Orangeburg County School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Foster, “for the opportunities that you’ve given me and everything that you saw in me.”

Foster said Fair-Coles is not only an outstanding teacher, but a great person.

“She brings her love and care not only to her kids, but also to her parents. She’s committed them, and she makes learning fun. I enjoy going in and watching her teach when I’m over here because I get inspired to see the great things that our kids are getting from a great person. We’re blessed to have her here,” Foster said.

With her award, Fair-Coles will also receive mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever, for example, pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor.

S.C. Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver was also present to congratulate Fair-Coles.

“On behalf of the state of South Carolina, I just want to say how incredibly proud we are of you. You are the best and highest representation of one of the greatest professions in the entire world. You have a teacher’s heart,” she said.

Weaver noted Fair-Coles’ enthusiasm for teaching as she served her students and their parents, colleagues and community.

“I am so excited to follow you on this amazing journey that you are embarking on, and I just wish you all the very best,” Weaver said.

Principal Williams said, “We are grateful to God for all his blessings. We thank our wonderful teachers and parents because if you were not here pushing our students, it would make it even the more difficult task.

“So to our wonderful faculty and staff members, we appreciate you and, most importantly, our students. We are grateful to our superintendent and our board members and all other dignitaries in their place in the room.”

Barnett said, “I have the opportunity to travel around the country, and I get a chance to go to a lot of assemblies. I have to say … this is a tremendous group of kids. … I think you guys are actually one of the best schools I have ever been to.”

Weaver said, “I can feel the energy in this room. I can feel the love of learning that your teachers have and that you have and that your amazing parents and grandparents here have.”

Fair-Coles began her teaching career as instructional assistant.

She went back to school to complete her education degree after realizing a calling to enter the teaching field.

She has been cited for her ability to highlight student achievements while also providing parents with strategies for modeling good behavior and life skills at home. Fair-Coles serves on the Comprehensive Support and Improvement instructional leadership team and is certified on the South Carolina Teaching Standards 4.0 rubric to support and evaluate teachers.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Claflin University in 2009 and a master’s degree in teaching from South Carolina State University in 2018.

Barnett said Fair-Coles’ unique, hands-on approach to teaching created “a warm, welcoming classroom for her early learning.”

“Amanda’s passion for education has established her as a teacher leader at the school and in the state,” he said.

South Carolina joined the Milken Education Awards program in 1994. There have been 63 recipients of the award in South Carolina since the program began, with $1.6 million awarded in South Carolina since the program’s inception.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow “Good News with Gleaton” on Twitter at @DionneTandD

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