NSU Honors Milken Award Winner

NSU College of Education Dean Dr. Kay Grant, right, presents Ronia Davison, center, with a basket of mementos from the university. To the left is Sadler Principal Maudye Winget, who nominated Davison for the award.

MUSKOGEE The walls outside Ronia Davisons classroom are barely visible under layers of construction paper, painting and assorted artwork proudly displayed by the third grade teacher.

My rewards for being a teacher are in the faces of my students when they succeed, said Davison, who was recently honored with the 2008 Oklahoma Milken Educator Award. The reactions of the parents and the way they respond when they know that you love and care for the children is really special for me.

The Northeastern State University College of Education honored Davison on Friday, Oct. 31 with a special presentation in her classroom in Muskogee, Okla. NSU College of Education Dean Dr. Kay Grant delivered a basket of NSU mementos and notes from NSU President Dr. Don Betz, faculty and staff.

In so many ways, Ronia signifies the success of students in NSUs learning community, said Betz. She is clearly a role model to her students and exemplifies the qualities that characterize graduates of our education program.

Davison earned her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education in 1996 and masters in Reading in 2008, both from NSU. She is currently taking courses in School Administration at NSU.

We were proud of Ronia even before she was selected for this honor, said Grant, who interviewed Davison for her first teaching job in 1996. We have so many good teachers go through our program, its always great to see them be recognized for excellence in teaching.

Oklahoma State Superintendent Sandy Garrett, a fellow NSU graduate, presented the Oklahoma Milken Educator Award to Davison on Wednesday, Oct. 22, along with Tom Boysen of the Milken Foundation. In addition to receiving the prestigious award, Davison was also given $25,000 to spend as she wishes.

It was such a shock to me, because with these awards you have no idea that you have been nominated, said Davison. I feel really humbled to receive this award. I teach with such excellent educators at Sadler, that to be singled out feels like a major honor.

Sadler Principal Maudye Winget nominated Davison for the award.

The Milken Family Foundation established the Milken awards in 1987 as a way to honor teachers for their talent, leadership, and positive relationships with families and the community.

Davison is one of 79 Milken award winners from across the country, and the only one from Oklahoma, who will travel to Los Angeles for the National Education Conference next spring.

Davison integrates the arts, literature and technology with core subjects to help her students become high achievers at Sadler Arts Academy. Teaching students from diverse backgrounds, 75 percent of who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, Davison implements research-based best practices in creative and engaging ways.

My time at Northeastern has been a great experience, thats why I keep coming back, said Davison. Its great to have NSU so close by. The way the faculty embraced me and made me feel like I was capable of anything was extraordinary. They made me feel singled out and gave me a lot of encouragement in my classes.

Davison is the Muskogee school districts lead teacher for third-grade language arts curriculum development and is part of a cadre of exemplary teachers who present on quality arts education to schools and districts across the state. She participates each summer in the McCurtain County Arts Initiative and is a faculty member at the prestigious Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute in Quartz Mountain, Okla.

A National Board Certified teacher, Davison regularly mentors Sadler teachers, including those pursuing National Board Certification.

10/28/2008

Published: 2008-10-31 00:00:00