2016 TAP Founder's Award

The team from Southport Elementary and Perry Township Schools gathers on stage as fellow educators applaud and cheer their 2016 TAP Founder's Award win.

Leaders from Southport Elementary and Perry Township Schools hold their oversized TAP Founder's Award check. From left, NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken; Christy Martino, Indiana TAP Regional Coordinator for the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning; Perry Township Schools Assistant Superintendent Vickie Carpenter; Angie Kendall, Southport Elementary TAP Master Teacher; Southport Elementary School Principal Dr. Danny Mendez; Southport Elementary School Assistant Principal Lora Hansell; Perry Township Schools Assistant Superintendent Robert Bohannon; Jeanetta Penniston, Southport Elementary TAP Master Teacher; Bonnie Somers, senior vice president for NIET; and NIET CEO Dr. Gary Stark.

NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken congratulates the Southport Elementary team on winning the 2016 TAP Founder's Award. The $50,000 Award, says Milken, is "an amount that signals others to stand up and take note: This is what excellent progress in K-12 education looks like." 

From left, Southport TAP Master Teacher Angie Kendall; Southport Elementary School Assistant Principal Lora Hansell; Southport Elementary School Principal Dr. Danny Mendez; Perry Township Schools Assistant Superintendent Robert Bohannon; and NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken.

Southport Elementary School leaders enjoy the spotlight as colleagues and fellow educators snap photos. 

NIET Director of Services Sheila Talamo and Teddy W. Broussard, NIET director of leadership development, congratulate Southport Elementary School Principal Dr. Danny Mendez on the school's 2016 TAP Founder's Award. 

The Southport Elementary team watches the NIET video celebrating the school's 2016 TAP Founder's Award on a mobile phone.

The Southport Elementary team celebrates their 2016 TAP Founder's Award. From left, Perry Township Schools Administrator of Professional Development for English Learners Jane Pollard; TAP Master Teacher Angie Kendall; Southport Elementary School Assistant Principal Lora Hansell; TAP Master Teacher Jeanetta Penniston; and Dr. Danny Mendez, Southport Elementary principal.