Las Vegas Teacher Ali Jun Receives Nevada’s Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash Prize
Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert was joined by Governor Steve Sisolak and Lowell Milken to surprise the music specialist at Dr. Beverly S. Mathis Elementary School
The Milken Educator Award provides public recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 to outstanding K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists who are furthering excellence in education. Milken Educator Awards Founder Lowell Milken was joined by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert, and Lieutenant Governor Lisa Cano Burkhead to honor Ms. Jun for the positive impact she has made on students' lives and the culture and climate of the school.
"Ali Jun demonstrates excellence in arts education. She fosters creativity, critical thinking, perseverance, and self-confidence that benefit students across the curriculum," said Lowell Milken. "Ali's enthusiastic spirit shines beyond the classroom, where she contributes to the strength of the faculty, engages families, and serves as a model member of the community. I congratulate Ali and thank her for making education her chosen profession."
Jun's achievement follows the legacy of Mathis Elementary namesake Dr. Beverly S. Mathis, who herself is a Milken Educator Awardee from Nevada's 2000 class. Mathis was on hand today to offer her congratulations and welcome Jun into the Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,800 Milken Educator Award recipients dedicated to strengthening K-12 education.
"Caring and effective educators are the most important factor for our students' well-being, and Ali Jun is the gold standard of an exceptional educator," said Superintendent Ebert. "Ms. Jun is creative, engaging, and vibrant, and we are fortunate to have her talents supporting the students at Beverly Mathis Elementary School. She is absolutely deserving of this recognition, and we could not be more thrilled to celebrate her on this Teacher Appreciation Day!"
"Ali Jun is an exceptional educator who brings passion, care, and joy to every interaction with her students, and it is my pleasure to congratulate her on receiving the Milken Educator Award," said Governor Steve Sisolak. "Ms. Jun is a perfect example of a caring educator who goes above and beyond to provide the best for her students, and I am thrilled we have the opportunity to celebrate her, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week!"
More About Ali Jun
Drumbeat in the Classroom: Each week, Ms. Jun educates every student at Dr. Beverly S. Mathis Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through fifth grade. She instills fundamental skills like rhythm, musical notation and ear-training, integrating academic learning wherever possible. Units on bucket drumming teach counting and rhythmic patterns, and students practice notating what they hear on the whiteboard as Ms. Jun plays melodies on the piano. Older students work toward being able to identify all the woodwind instruments by both sight and sound.
Learning Adaptation: Throughout the pandemic, students engaged with Ms. Jun both virtually and in person, participating enthusiastically in her innovative lessons. During COVID-19-related school building closures, she gathered supplies to distribute to school families, always reminding students to sing and dance at home. She raised funds from outside donors to buy ukuleles, drums and sticks, guitars, and recorders.
Pride in Performance: In addition to instrument ensembles and theatrical productions, Ms. Jun leads the Mathis Maestros, the school's honor choir, and its junior counterpart, the Mini Maestros. Students have performed locally, including at the Ethel M chocolate factory and in the PBS Holiday Showcase. When the choir sang in the annual parade marking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Ms. Jun interviewed Dr. Beverly Mathis and built the program around her favorite songs. Thanks to Ms. Jun's support, hundreds of students tackle their fears each year to audition for solos in her school musicals and choir performances.
Lifelong Lessons: Ms. Jun arranges field trips to the Smith Center for professional performances of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, knowing that learning to be an enthusiastic audience member is part of developing a lifelong love of music. Ms. Jun also contributes her time to help former students prepare for magnet school auditions and college applications.
Building Community: Ms. Jun brings a positive outlook to her interactions with students, colleagues, and families. She goes to great lengths to involve families in her efforts to showcase their children's accomplishments to the community. Since Mathis opened in 2017, Jun has been a fundamental part of the school culture. She penned the original anthem every student knows by heart: "We are the Mustangs, the Mighty Mathis Mustangs, galloping to the future ahead!"
Education: Ms. Jun earned a bachelor's (2003) and master's (2004) in music education from Syracuse University.
For full bio, photos, and video, visit
https://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/educators/view/ali-jun
More About the Milken Educator Awards in Nevada: "The future belongs to the educated."
Since the Milken Educator Award program began in Nevada, 88 educators have been recognized in the State and received a total of $2,200,000 in cash prizes.
Along with the financial prize, Milken Educator Award recipients join the national Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,800 top teachers, principals, and specialists. The network serves as a rich resource for fellow educators, legislators, school boards, and others dedicated to excellence in education.
In June, the honorees will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to increase their impact on K-12 education. In addition, they will learn about how to become involved in the Milken Friends Forever (MFFs) mentoring program, in which freshman Milken Educators receive personalized coaching and support from a Milken Educator veteran on ways to elevate their instructional practice and take an active role in educational leadership, policy and practice.
To get regular updates on the surprise Milken Educator Award events or to watch the award events unfold, follow and use the #MilkenAward hashtag on Facebook (@MilkenEducatorAwards), Twitter (@Milken), YouTube (/MilkenAward), Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn), and TikTok (@MilkenAward).
For more information, visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org.
Attachments:
- Bio, Photos, Videos of Ali Jun - Nevada 2022 Milken Educator Award Recipient
- MilkenEducatorAwards.org
- Milken Family Foundation
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ABOUT THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates with Nevada's 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to advance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve its mission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under the leadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and 30,000 educators.
ABOUT THE MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARDS
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. The awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The initiative was created by the Milken Family Foundation, which celebrates 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.