2019 NIET Founder's Award Finalists Luncheon

Leaders and staff at Wildflower School and Avondale Elementary School District #44 take to the stage to accept the prestigious NIET Founder's Award from NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken. The honor comes with a $50,000 cash prize.

From left to right: NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken, Avondale Elementary School District #44 Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove, Centerra Mirage STEM Academy Principal Casey Frank, District Professional Development Coordinator Anna Carino, Wildflower Master Teacher Elizabeth Balke, Wildflower Mentor Teacher Elzbieta Galek, Wildflower Dean of Students Ana Gutierrez, Wildflower Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya, Wildflower Master Teacher Katelyn Orloski, District Director of Curriculum and Innovation Kellie Duguid, Avondale Middle School Master Teacher Kristin Metler, NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen, and NIET Co-President and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Josh Barnett.

Principals Robert Hill of Alice M. Harte Charter (LA), Tammy Woolbright of Dodson Branch School (TN), Jessica Stacy of Cross County Elementary Technology Academy (AR), Meredith Nelson of Desert View Elementary (AZ), and Dr. Araceli Montoya of Wildflower School (AZ) join NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken (far left) and CEO Dr. Candice McQueen (far right) on stage after being honored as NIET Founder's Award finalists. As part of the honor, each school receives a $10,000 cash prize.

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken and NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen congratulate Robert Hill, Head of School at Alice M. Harte Charter School in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Harte's honor as a 2019 NIET Founder's Award finalist. The recognition comes with a cash prize of $10,000.

Principal Jessica Stacy joins NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken and CEO Dr. Candice McQueen on stage to accept the $10,000 NIET Founder’s Award finalist prize on behalf of Cross County Elementary Technology Academy (CCETA), Arkansas.

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken and CEO Dr. Candice McQueen congratulate Desert View Elementary, Arizona, as they present the $10,000 NIET Founder’s Award finalist prize to Principal Meredith Nelson.

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken and NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen congratulate Principal Tammy Woolbright, who accepts the NIET Founder's Award finalist honor on behalf of Dodson Branch School in Tennessee.

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken and CEO Dr. Candice McQueen congratulate Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya and Wildflower School with a $10,000 NIET Founder’s Award finalist prize. 

Having just been surprised by the announcement of their 2019 NIET Founder's Award—which comes with a cash prize of $50,000—Wildflower educators gather to watch a video produced in their honor. From left to right: Master Teacher Elizabeth Balke, Master Teacher Katelyn Orloski, Mentor Teacher Elzbieta Galek, Dean of Students Ana Gutierrez and Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya.

Wildflower School Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya and Mentor Teacher Elzbieta Galek embrace after learning that their school received the 2019 NIET Founder's Award—and a $50,000 cash prize!

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken celebrates with Wildflower and Avondale Elementary School District #44 leaders and staff.

From left to right: Avondale Elementary School District #44 Professional Development Coordinator Anna Carino, Wildflower Mentor Teacher Elzbieta Galek, Avondale Middle School Master Teacher Kristin Metler, Wildflower Master Teacher Elizabeth Balke, Avondale Elementary School District #44 Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove, Wildflower Master Teacher Katelyn Orloski, Centerra Mirage STEM Academy Principal Casey Frank, Wildflower Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya, Avondale Elementary School District #44 Director of Curriculum and Innovation Kellie Duguid, Wildflower Dean of Students Ana Gutierrez, and Lowell Milken.

Wildflower educators call home to share the news of the NIET Founder's Award with their colleagues. Left to right: Wildflower Master Teachers Elizabeth Balke and Katelyn Orloski, Dean of Students Ana Gutierrez and Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya.