Press Releases
03/30/2022
Ansonia High School Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Honor Connecticut Educator Laura Baker-Coronis Receives Prestigious Milken Family Foundation Award
Connecticut Educator Laura Baker-Coronis Receives Prestigious Milken Family Foundation Award
(Ansonia, CT)— In a surprise visit today at a school assembly, Ansonia High School teacher Laura Baker-Coronis was presented with a 2022 Milken Educator Award and the $25,000 prize that comes with it.
State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Senior Vice President of Milken Educator Awards Jane Foley, and other officials were on hand to witness the exciting presentation, along with students and other community members.
“Teaching is a noble profession; it takes great skill, ability, and perseverance. I am delighted that one of Connecticut’s educators is receiving this prestigious recognition,” said Commissioner Russell-Tucker. “The Milken Educator Award brings much-deserved focus to our excellent educators in Connecticut. I congratulate Ms. Baker-Coronis on receiving this award and thank her for her dedication to the students of Ansonia and innovative practices in the classroom.”
“Teachers do more than teach our children, they are active parts of students’ lives and offer extra levels of support and guidance both in and outside of the classroom,” said Lt. Governor Bysiewicz. “Teaching is a selfless act, and teachers deserve our appreciation and recognition not only a few times throughout the year, but every day. I want to congratulate Ms. Baker-Coronis for her hard work and dedication to serving our state’s younger generation.”
“Extraordinary educators engage their students through creativity and leadership, and Laura Baker-Coronis exemplifies this in her classroom each day,” said Dr. Foley, who is herself a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator. “Laura makes learning tangible and exciting while equipping her students with problem-solving and communication skills that will be essential throughout their lives. I am proud to celebrate Laura today and look forward to her contributions to the national Milken Educator Network.”
Laura Baker-Coronis is being honored for her strong ability to create learning environments that connect math to the real world. Her ninth-graders at Ansonia High School use algebra to design their dream cars, compare cell phone plans based on data usage, and figure out which careers provide the most income. In the Cereal Box Challenge, a highlight of Baker-Coronis’ geometry classes, students design boxes to hold specified volumes, with constraints like production costs, graphics, and having to fit multiple boxes into specified shipping cartons.
At Ansonia Public Schools, Baker-Coronis is a respected leader who challenges colleagues to think creatively to support students. She leads the math department, analyzing data with colleagues to identify student weaknesses and develop strategies to overcome them. As freshman team lead, Baker-Coronis facilitates collaboration among teachers to address students’ behavioral, social-emotional, and academic needs.
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For Immediate Release: March 30, 2022
About the Milken Educator Awards
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. The awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The initiative was created by the Milken Family Foundation, which celebrates 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org
CSDE Contact:
Eric E. Scoville
Director of Communications
Connecticut State Department of Education
Office of the Commissioner
Cell: 860-424-1988
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For Immediate Release: April 8, 2021
Contact: Eric Scoville
Connecticut State Department of Education
860-424-1988 (cell)
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