Colt Brockington’s outstanding commitment to his students, colleagues and community earns him the “Oscar of Teaching”

College of Coastal Georgia alum Colt Brockington ‘17, a science teacher at Wayne County High School (WCHS), became the state’s sole 2023-2024 recipient of the Milken Educator Award. Brockington, who is also an alum of WCHS, supports students’ academic success—teaching classes ranging from special education biology to honors physics—while remaining dedicated to his duties as an athletic coach and leader within the school district. His efforts were recognized broadly with the prestigious Milken Educator Award and a life-size, unrestricted $25,000 check.

An all-school assembly began with a visit from Deputy Superintendent of Rural Education and Innovation at the Georgia Department of Education Dr. Bronwyn Ragan-Martin and Georgia State Board of Education Member Nicholas Ellis, who were there to celebrate student growth and help kick off the second semester. Then the assembly took an exciting turn when Ellis introduced a surprise guest, Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop. In the blink of an eye, Brockington’s day went from ordinary to extraordinary when he was presented with the $25,000 Award. US Rep. Buddy Carter joined in the celebration along with cheering students, colleagues, fellow dignitaries, and media.

“Colt Brockington approaches every educational opportunity with a refreshing sense of diligence, dedication and heart that leads to significant, positive outcomes for students, “ said Bishop, who is also a 2001 Virginia Milken Educator. “Whether he is leading in the classroom or on the field, Colt’s presence inspires those around him to want to be better. This team player will surely have a whole new set of fans within the Milken Educator Network. Congratulations Colt!”

Brockington is the first Milken Educator Award recipient from the Wayne County School System since 1999, when Amy Denty received her Award at Arthur Williams Middle School. Denty is now the director of literacy at the Georgia Department of Education, and also joined in during the celebration alongside several fellow Georgia Milken Educators.

“I am extremely grateful that Colt Brockington chose to enter the education profession and is making a difference in the lives of Georgia students each and every day,” Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Georgia’s teachers are the ones making education work in our state—it’s through their efforts that all educational achievement takes place. On behalf of our education family, congratulations to Mr. Brockington on his receipt of this well-deserved award!”

Brockington was completely unaware of his candidacy for the Award. Recipients are sought out while early to mid-career for what they have achieved—and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award.

Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Awards will honor up to 75 recipients across the country in 2023-2024 as part of the Milken Family Foundation’s Journey to the 3,000th Milken Educator. 2023-24 will reach $75 million in individual financial prizes spanning the length of the initiative and more than $144 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to “Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate” the K-12 profession and inspiring young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career.

The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education.

Now as a Milken Educator, Brockington will have the opportunity to attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles this June, where he will network with new colleagues, veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education. Honorees receive mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. The cash award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways, such as their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.

Watch the video of Colt being honored here.

Click here to learn more about Colt.

Story and photos provided by the Milken Family Foundation.