Clayton County Public School's, $25,000 Super Educator
by Dana Hinders

When the Milken Family Foundation selects award winners, it looks for talented educators who are making impactful differences in the classroom with their vision and gift to motivate. Clayton County Public School’s own, Shekema Silveri, was selected among 40 educators throughout the country to receive this prestigious teacher award, as Georgia’s 2011 National Milken Educator of the Year.

Dubbed “the Oscars of teaching” by Teacher Magazine, the Milken Educator Awards program was conceived by Lowell Milken in 1987 to recognize the importance of outstanding educators, while encouraging talented young people to enter the teaching profession. There is no formal nomination or application process. Teachers are recommended by members of a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education, who look for exceptional educational talent; exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom; contributions to education that are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight; potential for professional and policy leadership; and an inspiring presence that impacts students, colleagues, and the community. The award comes with a no-strings-attached cash prize of $25,000.

Silvari, a ninth through twelfth-grade language arts teacher at Mt. Zion High School, was recognized for her innovative practices through the use of blogs, video, and websites to keep her students engaged in the material being presented. Additionally, she ensures that they are challenged to produce evidence of learning, justify their perspectives, and evaluate their reasoning.
Her reputation throughout the school is that she goes far beyond what is expected of her to create memorable learning experiences. For example, when discussing issues of race in America, Silveri tracked down a Dutch activist and speaker, Jacob Holdt, to visit Mt. Zion High School. Although Holdt is normally only a speaker at distinguished universities, he was eager to connect with younger audience that was primarily African American. Students who attended the presentation came away with a broader world view and a keener sense of how race is viewed in our society.

Silveri’s effective instructional practices and student learning results are cultivated by her nurturing temperment in the classroom where she takes the time to ensure that her students know how much she cares about their progress. When one student was asked why she loved Ms. Silveri, she answered, “Because she loves us. She told us at the beginning of year that she was giving us her all because she loves us, and I appreciate and love her for that.”

In a county where the commitment to quality education and student achievement is priority, Silveri’s teaching methods produce results that have prepared the county’s students for today’s competitive post-secondary environment. Her AP classes are filled to capacity and frequently include students who are not normally on an honors track. An astonishing 100% of Silveri’s students passed the End of Course Test for American Literature and six of the 11 students at Mt. Zion, who passed Advanced Placement Exams, came from her class.

“The Milken Educator Award is a tremendous honor that was given to a very deserving teacher,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John D. Barge. “I congratulate Ms. Silveri and thank the Milken Foundation for using their resources for such a great cause – recognizing those who teach and inspire our students.”