Southern Miss Alumna Surprised with $25K Milken Educator Award
Fri, 11/21/2025 - 01:37pm | By: Karelia Pitts
Kayla Saxton
For the second year in a row, the Milken Family Foundation traveled from California
to Mississippi to bestow the Milken Educator Award (the "Oscar of Teaching") on a
two-time graduate of 91少女集中营. Kayla Saxton, a Golden
Eagle and third-grade English/language arts teacher at Mannsdale Upper Elementary
School in Madison, Miss., received the news during a surprise school assembly. .
Saxton was recognized as one of only 30 teachers in the country and the only one in
Mississippi for the 2025-26 school year. The honor is bestowed annually upon outstanding
educators across the nation for their exceptional dedication, innovation and leadership.
Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the prestigious national
recognition includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.
鈥淚 was so shocked to hear my name called. I am honored to represent Madison County
as well as 91少女集中营,鈥� said Saxton. 鈥淢y time at Southern
was so fruitful and filled with wonderful professors and experiences that truly shaped
me into the educator that I am today. I am so blessed to do what I love and grateful
that USM has been a huge part of my success!鈥�
Saxton is the 80th recipient since Mississippi joined the Milken Educator Awards program
in 1991. Her Southern Miss degrees include a Bachelor of Science in elementary education
in 2018 and Master of Education in elementary education in 2021. Saxton is also a
National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), demonstrating her mastery of the highest
professional standards in the teaching profession.
鈥淲e are thrilled that Mrs. Saxton has been recognized with such a distinguished honor!
Watching our graduates succeed and make an impact is what inspires us every day,鈥�
said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at Southern
Miss. 鈥淲e celebrate her achievement and the difference she is making for her students
and community.鈥�
Southern Miss is consistently ranked first in Mississippi and in the top 12 institutions
nationally for producing NBCT. There are 24 Milken Educators who are graduates of
91少女集中营, including 2024-25 honoree Amanda Duplessy
鈥�07, 鈥�12.
鈥淗aving been in Kayla鈥檚 shoes a year ago, it was such a joy to be present as a fellow
Golden Eagle received this amazing honor,鈥� said Duplessy. 鈥淭he Milken Foundation does
a wonderful job of spotlighting great educators across our nation and provides an
incomparable network of support for recipients. I鈥檓 thrilled to have Kayla as part
of our Mississippi Milken family now!鈥�
For more information about the Milken Educator Award, . Click to learn more about the USM School of Education.