Our Lady of the Lake University alumna and eighth-grade math teacher at Whittier Middle School, Laura Servin, has won the Milken Educator Award. The award, also known as the “Oscar of Teaching,” comes with an unrestricted $25,000 financial prize. Servin is the sole recipient of the award in Texas for the 2015-2016 academic year and the first teacher from San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) to receive the award. She is one of 40 educators who will receive the award this year.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott and Education Commissioner Mike Morath surprised Servin during a school assembly in front of an audience of students, colleagues and distinguished officials. Servin, a dedicated educator, was lauded for bringing math to life for her students. Her students engage in project-based learning and she actively involves them in their own progress and outcomes. She pays attention to individual needs and offers tutoring before and after school as well as during lunch and on weekends. As a result, Servin’s algebra students have achieved 100 percent mastery on the state algebra test and students in her other math classes are obtaining high pass rates.
Outside the classroom, Servin’s expertise in education and passion for her students continues. Her involvement on the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) site team has earned Whittier Middle School recognition as an AVID National Demonstration School. She serves on the school leadership team, is a mentor teacher, helps lead the pep squad and works as the school’s sponsor on the National Junior Honor Society. Additionally, she has coached seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ volleyball, and has taught summer school.
Servin earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies in 2006 and received her teaching certification the same year.
The Milken Educator Awards was conceived by the Milken Family Foundation to attract, retain and motivate outstanding talent to the teaching profession. It is the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program, dubbed the “Oscars of Teaching” by “Teacher” magazine. Since 1987, the Milken Family Foundation has devoted more than $137 million in funding to the Milken Educator Awards, including over $66 million in individual awards to more than 2,600 recipients plus powerful professional development opportunities and networking with leading education stakeholders.
View video of the ceremony held to announce Laura Servin’s award.