Article by Emily Wang, White River Now
Students and staff at Southside Middle School gathered Wednesday morning for a surprise assembly honoring teacher Derek Tharp, the recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award. Known as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the award comes with a $25,000 prize and recognizes educators’ pivotal role in shaping future generations.
Tharp joins an elite group of more than 3,000 Milken Educators honored since the program’s inception in 1982. He is the 82nd recipient from Arkansas. The awards, created by Michael and Lowell Milken, aim to celebrate, elevate, and activate the teaching profession while inspiring talented individuals to pursue careers in education. To date, the program has distributed more than $75 million in individual prizes and invested over $145 million in promoting excellence in K-12 education.
Jacob Oliva, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education, opened the assembly by commending the Southside School District. “I’ve met wonderful young scholars and learned about the incredible things happening right here,” Oliva said. “This is an amazing school district with amazing teachers, and we are so proud of what you’re doing.”
Dr. Joshua Barnett, CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and representative of the Milken Family Foundation, presented the award. Barnett highlighted the importance of recognizing educators’ hard work and praised Southside’s commitment to student success.
Before announcing the winner, Barnett engaged the audience with questions such as, “Who at school helps us learn?” and “What does the word ‘excellence’ mean?” A fifth-grader’s response—“Our wonderful teachers”—prompted applause from the crowd.
Tharp, visibly moved, accepted the honor with humility. “I am overwhelmed, humbled, and honored. I don’t feel worthy of this recognition. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do,” Tharp said. “I’m one of a team of incredible administrators, teachers, and friends who pour into the lives of students every day. It’s a blessing to be part of such an excellent team.”
The award includes $25,000, national recognition, an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, and membership in the Milken Educators network.
Reflecting on the honor, Tharp shared, “It’s my prayer that my students feel my love for them. I hope they know how much their teachers care and want the best for them. Together, we are doing something great.”
The assembly concluded with a message of gratitude to the community for its support and a reminder of the exceptional work taking place at Southside Middle School.
More information can be found on the Milken Educator’s Award Website : https://www.
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