Portland First Grade Teacher Janet Do Wins Milken Educator Award

PORTLAND, OR – Janet Do is a product of the Portland Public Schools. Now, she is also one of its shining stars.

The first-grade teacher at Whitman Elementary School was surprised at a school assembly with the news that she'd been won a Milken Educator Award.

The award, considered the Oscars of teaching, comes with a $25,000 check.

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Do was one of 40 teachers from around the country to win the award this year and the only from Oregon,

"I'm fortunate to work with teachers who love coming to school and being here for students," Do told the assembly.

Though only two of her 21 students last year started reading at grade level, by the end of the year, more than 70 percent had demonstrated upwards of 1.5 years of growth in reading.

The Milken Family Foundation, which gives out the award, noted that "music plays a large part in Do's first-grade classroom: She uses rhythmic songs and chants to cement concepts, facts and vocabulary as the children work in small groups or independently."

Do was presented with the award by Dr. Jane Foley – a previous award winner and currently, the senior vice-president of the awards.

"As Victor Hugo wrote in Les Misérables, 'To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark,' " Foley said.

"Janet Do is a keeper of that flame, igniting a passion for learning in her students through her own love of knowledge, dedication to the craft of teaching and a multifaceted creative approach. We gladly welcome her into the proud fellowship of Milken Educators."

Do is a graduate of Benson High School, got her masters from Portland State University. She was then hired at Rigler Elementary before moving to Whitman..

Photo via Milken Family Foundation.