Moore teacher earns Milken Award

MOORE — Shelly Unsicker didn’t suspect a thing.

Surrounded by about 800 students in the Central Junior High School auditorium, Unsicker thought she’d come to Wednesday morning’s assembly to celebrate the school’s recent API score increase.

On stage, she heard Moore superintendent Deborah Arato brag on the students and the school’s faculty.

She listened as state school superintendent Sandy Garrett talked about the district’s accomplishments.

And she applauded when Richard Sandler, the executive vice president of the Milken Family Foundation, talked about the need to recognize great teachers.

But she had no idea.

Yet Wednesday, being Halloween, had at least one trick — and one great treat — in store for Unsicker, an English and Pre-AP English teacher at the school.

As she sat among her students, Unsicker, a seven-year veteran of the district, listened as Sandler told the crowd that a teacher in Moore was going to be honored with a 2007 National Milken Educator Award.

Her expression never changed.

At least not until Sandler said her name.

And even then, she wasn’t sure whether to sit or stand.

“I ... I ... really didn’t know exactly what to do,” Unsicker said. “My students had to tell me to get up and go on stage.”

Encouraged by her students to stand, Unsicker did, and eventually she made it to the stage where she said the award wasn’t about her, but about the school.

“It’s about you,” she said, pointing to the student audience. “It’s about critical literacy. It’s about the future. I work with the best principal in the United States, the best faculty and the best staff. I’m inspired by all of you.”

As one of only two 2007 Milken Award winners in the state, Unsicker joins a select group. Only 18 state teachers have received the award, Garrett said. Nationwide, the foundation has honored 2,300 K-12 educators since the awards began in 1987; about 80 teachers across the country received the award this year.

“It’s considered the Academy Award of teaching,” Garrett said.

Teachers, Garrett said, don’t apply for the award.

“The Milken Foundation goes looking for them. They ask us to send them a list of our best teachers, then they decide. There is no application process.”

Winners have no idea they’ve won, but discover the fact during a surprise all-school assembly.

“I’m still kind of shocked,” Unsicker said. “It’s amazing.”

In addition to the recognition, a trip to California for the award ceremony and a chance to discuss education ideas with other winners and education policy experts, Unsicker will receive a $25,000 stipend.

Money which, she said, she isn’t quite sure what to do with.

“I have no idea what I’ll do,” she said. “Except ... well, I’ll probably buy some books for my classroom library. I think it’s important for kids to read for pleasure, so I’ll add to my library.”

Named Central’s Teacher of the Year for 2006-07, Unsicker holds National Board certification. A native of Lawton, she taught in Lawton and Frederick before coming to Moore.

She also participated in the National Writing Project, the Oklahoma Writing Project and has sponsored Central’s Writing Art Club since 2002.