Meridian math teacher Rhonda Burrage’s hard work is adding up.

Burrage, who teaches at Magnolia Middle School, was surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award in January. A Golden Apple Award Teacher of the Month for October 2015 and 2015-16 Meridian Public School District Teacher of the Year Award recipient, Burrage is the only Mississippi teacher to receive the national award this year. On hand to present the award to Burrage were Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carey Wright.

“Middle school math can be a challenging subject, both to teach and learn. But Rhonda is an exceptional instructor and her students are known to thrive in her classroom,” Foley said. “Her students are engaged through her innovative teaching strategies and use of technology. I’m confident she will continue growing as an exemplary Milken Educator and lead in the field of education for many years to come.”

Wright said Burrage’s commitment to excellence and dedication to her students is worthy of recognition.

“She represents the best and brightest educators in our state,” the state superintendent said. “And I congratulate her on this outstanding achievement.”

As chair of Magnolia’s math department, Burrage has established a reputation for being able to reach even the toughest students and getting them to succeed in a school that has some significant challenges. That is why Magnolia Middle School Principal Angela McQuarley wasn’t surprised Burrage won the highly-coveted award.

“She’s a great teacher,” McQuarley said. “She’s a great role model. She takes the time out of her busy schedule to tutor students after school who are struggling. She’s a great leader in every capacity — everything I ask her to do, she does without hesitation.”

Sherrod Miller, the school’s assistant principal, agreed.

“She’s very hard working,” he said. “When we get new technology, she goes around teaching the other teachers. We’ve always known she was great. Now everybody else knows.”

Burrage, who has been teaching for seven years, has a bachelor of science degree in math education and a master’s degree in secondary math from Mississippi State University.

“It couldn’t have happened to a better teacher or more deserving teacher,” said MPSD superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. “Ms. Burrage comes in every day and gives 100 percent in every single one of her classes. Then after that, she does other things throughout the district. She helps us at the central office. When we were rolling out our one-to-one technology initiative, she came in during her free time over the summer and helped us unpack the computers. She just wants to help and make a difference.

“I’m so glad she got this award,” Taylor added. “But the thing that makes her so special is, she would do it if nobody gave her a dime.”

Burrage was surrounded by students, staff and local dignitaries at the ceremony. Also on hand were previous Milken Award winners, including Aaron Wilson, who teaches fourth-grade math and science in the Forrest County School District. Milken Award winners join a larger network of educators around the country, sharing their ideas and techniques.

“It opens up a whole world in education,” Wilson said. “You have opportunities to leave the classroom and work with other people that have the same heart and passion for educating our students.”

“I’m feeling great — but I’m still in shock,” a grinning Burrage said after she received the award, adding she was encouraged to succeed at an early age.

“My seventh-grade teacher influenced me to do my very best,” she said. “And when I started tutoring college students, and they were able to understand my techniques and the way I taught, that confirmed to me that I wanted to become a math teacher.”

“When I came here (to Magnolia), it was like a calling,” said Burrage, who plans to use some of her prize money to purchase new calculators for her students. “It seems like I was supposed to be here; it’s my calling to be here. So every day I show up and I do my best. I hold high expectations for my students, and they perform. If you set it high, they will meet that bar.”

The Milken Educator Awards program, which was launched by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987, has been described as “the Oscars of teaching” by Teacher magazine. Award winners are free to use the money at their discretion.

Recipients are selected in early- to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. Many have gone on to earn advanced degrees and be placed in prominent posts and on state and national education committees.

Alternating yearly between elementary and secondary educators, the Milken Awards are sourced through each participating state department of education, which appoints an independent blue ribbon committee to confidentially review candidates for recommendation to the organization.

Criteria for the awards includes:

• Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;

• Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession;

• Individuals whose contributions to education are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight;

• Early- to mid-career educators who offer strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership; and

• Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.

The Rhonda Burrage File

— During computer-based eighth grade algebra classes, Rhonda Burrage immerses her kids in educational websites, and brings them together into small groups or one-on-one clusters so that they can better grasp concepts. Former students often place in advanced math classes upon reaching the high school level and three even participated in a community college math competition, for which they finished second place.

— Overall, Burrage’s algebra students received an A rating on the state test in 2013-2014, and she leads the district for Algebra I scores. According to state test score results, 78 percent of her students were deemed proficient, versus 63 percent of students statewide.

— Burrage fills various leadership roles at the school and the district. She’s a teacher mentor for first-year teachers, is on the school leadership team, and chairs the BETA club, where she coordinates community service projects. She spends her free time tutoring students enrolled in city and county schools.

— She has also developed lesson plans, modeled instructional implementations for other teachers, and has also taught school and district colleagues how to use Chromebook. Burrage provides regular input on disciplinary policies for the district and sits on the superintendent’s council.

• Source: Mississippi Dept. of Education