The Milken Educator Award has been described as the Oscar of teaching and rewards teachers across the nation with $25,000 for their outstanding educational talent.  LeeAnna Rabine, a kindergarten teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School in Sioux Falls was presented with the award last week.

Rabine says she plans to use the money for several literacy projects within her classroom and to help a few others as well…

 

She also plans to help a former student buy toys and gifts for the children’s hospital in Sioux Falls…

 

Rabine has many accomplishments in and outside of the classroom, including a pen pal program for students learning English, teaching the children in her classes about brushing their teeth, and receiving grants for her school to purchase brand new playground equipment.

She also mentors new and veteran teachers and makes home visits with students’ parents if they miss a parent-teacher conference.