(L to R) Michigan Superintendent Brian J. Whiston; State Senator Curtis Hertel; Kevin Tobe; Jane Foley, senior vice president, Milken Educator Awards; and State Representative Sam Singh.
Kevin Tobe, a high school mathematics teacher at Haslett High School in Michigan, was honored with the national Milken Educator Award on Nov. 24, 2015. As part of the award, Tobe received a $25,000 no-strings attached cash reward from the Milken Family Foundation.
Tobe, B.A. ’98 (Mathematics – Secondary Education) and M.A. ’01 (Curriculum and Teaching), is one of 40 secondary teachers nationwide to receive the award this year.
“Thank you to the MSU College of Education for providing such exceptional programs for future and current educators,” Tobe said. “My successes are very much a product of my experiences at Michigan State. It is no secret why the department maintains its national standing year after year. Spartans will.”
He is an accomplished teacher, serving as department chair, teaching regular and advanced mathematics courses and coaching the girl’s track team.
“Of his 41 students, 34 passed the AP Calculus exam the first time it was offered, while 82 percent received a score of three or better,” said Bart Wegenke, Haslett High School principal, in a Michigan Department of Education news release. “Additionally, 96 percent of his students met growth requirements for 2014-15.”
Tobe received the award at a supposedly routine school assembly. Special guest Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Family Foundation, was announced alongside Brian Whiston, state superintendent. Foley surprised Tobe with the announcement.
The Milken Educator Award was established in 1987 to reward and recognize early- to mid-career education professionals for their past achievements, and for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future. To date, more than 2,600 awards have been given out.
Watch Tobe receive the award in this video posted by MFF.
For more on the Milken Educator awards, visit: milkeneducatorawards.org.