91桃色

South Alum Receives National Teaching Award

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Posted on January 31, 2025

Marketing and Communications

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Gilly Gator, the costumed mascot of Gilliard Elementary School in Mobile, entertained students and staff on Jan. 30 as they gathered for a morning assembly. The crowd buzzed with curiosity. Why all the well-dressed adult visitors and the TV cameras? Was that Dr. Eric G. Mackey, the state superintendent of education? (Spoiler: It was.) What鈥檚 going on?

Then came the announcement: Fifth-grade math and science teacher Mary Travis 鈥� the woman in the Gilly Gator costume 鈥� was the sole Alabama winner of a 2024-25 Milken Educator Award. She is in her 10th year at Gilliard and earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education from the 91桃色 in 2011.

The national award, nicknamed the Oscars of teaching, carries a $25,000 cash prize. This year, it will go to up to 45 U.S. K-12 teachers, principals and specialists 鈥� each of them taken by surprise at a school assembly.

Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop, a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator, presented the award to Travis. 鈥淔rom her exciting classroom projects to her remarkable leadership in the school,鈥� Bishop said, 鈥淢ary鈥檚 positive influence and spirited nature are felt by all.鈥�

Responded Travis, 鈥淚s this real? Is this a dream where I鈥檓 standing in front of a crowd of people in a gator suit?鈥�

Later, when the truth had sunk in, she said, 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe that this would happen to me, ever, because I鈥檓 just doing my job, which I truly love to do. I didn鈥檛 know I was up for a nomination or anything.鈥�

The Milken Family Foundation鈥檚 confidential selection process keeps educators unaware of their candidacy. State department of education panels review nominees, with the foundation (based in Santa Monica, California) getting the final say.

In the classroom, Travis combines high expectations and high energy. She even creates rap songs to explain her subjects. Students collaborate on projects such as a math 鈥渂reakout,鈥� in which one class creates problems and secret codes for another class to solve. The children help each other work through their mistakes.

鈥淢istakes are magic; they are exactly how we learn,鈥� Travis said. 鈥淓specially in mathematics and science, because then you learn so much more. You learn the mathematics behind it. You learn the science behind it. It鈥檚 not just: This is the answer. It鈥檚: How is this the answer?鈥�

Superintendent Mackey said, 鈥淭his honor shines a spotlight on the exceptional talent and commitment of teachers across our state. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!鈥�

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