It was a day like any other for Brittany Matsushino, a sophomore English teacher and advisor to the student council at Cienega High School. However, on November 16, she was met with the surprise of her life as she was honored in front of the entire school with the Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 check.
The award presentation was kept under a tight lid. The majority of the school thought they were attending the assembly to hear the state superintendent speak about academic achievement.
“I’m very humbled,” Matushino told the Arizona Daily Star. “You don’t get into the teaching profession to be acknowledged; you don’t get into it for the salary. You get into it because you’re passionate about the students; you’re passionate about making a difference in their lives, so it’s very humbling to be recognized for that.”
The Milken Educator Award recognizes talented educators and awards them as a way to bolster the profession. Winners are selected based on their strong student achievement results that extend beyond the classroom and into the community.
Matushino had no idea she would be the winner. “A dozen other names came through my mind because I know, no matter what, we have wonderful teachers at Cienega,” she said. “There are so many that are so well deserving of recognition.”
The process to receive the award isn’t like most others. There is not a formal nomination process. Instead, candidates are reviewed and selected by an independent committee selected by the state department of education. This is a confidential process.
“Brittany Matushino is a dedicated, spirited, and inspired leader who has taken Cienega High School to new heights. Her classroom is a hub of interaction and engagement as students are pushed to think critically, set high expectations, and track their progress,” said the Milken Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder, Lowell Milken. Matushino reportedly spent hours coordinating student events. Through her efforts, she has helped to boost student morale to an all-time high.
Matushino’s students and colleagues were equally supportive of her selection as the winner of the award.
The Cienega Student Body President, Celina Pargas said, “For me, she’s been such a big support through everything. I’ve had her as a teacher since junior year, and she’s been such a big influence in my life, and she truly is inspiring.”
Cienega High School Principal, Nemer Hassey, also commented, “Brittany has a work ethic that is second to none. She not only is solid with curriculum instruction within the English department – we’re on a curriculum called Beyond Textbooks, and she’s very knowledgeable and strong in that category – she also runs our student council and is here all the time… but the biggest thing she does is she makes connections with students.”
Fewer than 40 teachers across the country will receive this award this year. Matushino was one of two Arizona educators to receive the Milken Educator Award on Monday. Another teacher in Mesa was awarded with a $25,000 check earlier in the day.