Greeley Educator, Alumnus, Honored with National Educator Award for Excellence

Caleb Flores throwing his hands up in celebration

Greeley Educator, Alumnus, Honored with National Educator Award for Excellence

Maestro de Greeley, egresado de 麻豆传媒, recibe Premio Nacional a la Excelencia Educativa

This year, the sole winner of the Milken Award, known as the "Oscars for Teaching," from Colorado was Greeley native and University of Northern Colorado alumnus Caleb Flores.

December 19, 2023

Photo courtesy of the Milken Family Foundation

Since 1987, the has been recognizing top educators across the United States. Known as the 鈥淥scars of Teaching,鈥� the Milken Educator Awards honor excellence and specifically target early-to-mid-career education professionals who are currently accomplishing great things and show promise that those accomplishments will continue. This year, the sole winner of the $25,000 award from Colorado was Greeley native and University of Northern Colorado alumnus Caleb Flores.

Flores, 鈥�16, M.A. 鈥�21, is an English language arts, reading and Culturally Linguistically Diverse teacher at Greeley West High School. He was surprised with the award during a school assembly on Dec. 15 that was presented by Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley and Colorado Commissioner of Education Susana C贸rdova.

"I heard them call my name and I couldn't believe it, I was shaking. It felt surreal," Flores told the Milken Family Foundation.

Flores has been described as an advocate for equitable education, ensuring all students, particularly those who are English Language Learners, have access to the resources they need to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. He also serves as a mentor teacher to new hires at Greeley West and as a family and community liaison at the community college and in the high school.

"My grandpa went to school in Texas and he would be hit with a paddle every time he spoke Spanish. So, having that perspective of how times haven't always been easiest, I teach because I want my students to know that what they look like, where they come from and no matter what language they speak they can make something of themselves," Flores told the Milken Family Foundation.

Flores letting his wife know he won the award

Flores was one of just 75 recipients across the country who will be honored in 2023-24 as part of the Milken Family Foundation鈥檚 Journey to the 3,000th Milken Educator. Read more about his accomplishments and see more of his reaction to receiving .

Caleb Flores holding up a big check with his students standing behind him

Caleb Flores hugging one of his male students

students holding up 25,000 in poster numbers

Caleb Flores holding up his big 25,000 check

Photos courtesy of the Milken Family Foundation

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Foto: Cortes铆a de la Milken Family Foundation

Desde 1987, la reconoce a los mejores educadores de Estados Unidos. Conocidos como los "Oscares de la Ense帽anza", los Milken Educator Awards honran la excelencia y se dirigen espec铆ficamente a profesionales de la educaci贸n que se encuentran en la fase inicial o media de su carrera y que est谩n logrando grandes cosas y prometen que esos logros continuar谩n. Este a帽o, el 煤nico ganador del premio de 25,000 d贸lares de Colorado fue Caleb Flores, originario de Greeley y egresado de la Universidad del Norte de Colorado.

Flores, quien se gradu贸 de 麻豆传媒 en 2016 y obtuvo su maestr铆a en 2021, es profesor de lengua y literatura inglesas, lectura y diversidad ling眉铆stica cultural en la preparatoria Greeley West. Le sorprendi贸 que le dieran el premio durante una asamblea escolar celebrada el 15 de diciembre y presentada por la Vicepresidenta Senior de los Premios Milken al Educador, la Dra. Jane Foley, y la Comisaria de Educaci贸n de Colorado, Susana C贸rdova.

"O铆 que dec铆an mi nombre y no me lo pod铆a creer, estaba temblando. Se sinti贸 como algo surrealista", dijo Flores a la Milken Family Foundation.

Flores ha sido descrito como un defensor de la educaci贸n equitativa, garantizando que todos los estudiantes, en particular los que est谩n aprendiendo ingl茅s, tengan acceso a los recursos que necesitan para tener 茅xito tanto dentro como fuera del aula. Tambi茅n ejerce como profesor mentor de los nuevos contratados en Greeley West y como enlace con las familias y la comunidad en el colegio comunitario (community college) y en la preparatoria.

"Mi abuelo fue a la escuela en Texas y le pegaban con una tabla cada vez que hablaba espa帽ol. As铆 que, teniendo esa perspectiva de c贸mo los tiempos no siempre han sido m谩s f谩ciles, ense帽o porque quiero que mis alumnos sepan que, tengan el aspecto que tengan, vengan de donde vengan y hablen el idioma que hablen, pueden hacer algo por s铆 mismos", dijo Flores a la Milken Family Foundation.

Flores en llamada telef贸nica con su esposa, cont谩ndole que gan贸 el premio.

Flores fue uno de los 75 galardonados en todo el pa铆s que ser谩n honrados en 2023-24 como parte del programa Rumbo al Educador Milken n煤mero 3,000 de la Fundaci贸n de la Familia Milken. Lea m谩s acerca de sus logros y vea m谩s de su reacci贸n al recibir el .

Caleb Flores recibiendo el premio Milken

Caleb Flores abrazando a uno de sus alumnos

Caleb Flores sonriendo con un celular en mano

Caleb Flores junto con miembros del premio Milken y autoridades escolares deteniendo un gran cheque de 25 mil dolares

Alumnos de West Greeley sosteniendo cada uno un papel con la cifra total de 25 mil

Fotograf铆as: Cortes铆a de la Fundaci贸n Milken Family

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鈥揺scrito por Sydney Kern, traducido por Carlos Jos茅 P茅rez S谩mano

麻豆传媒