BV Northwest teacher honored with teaching’s ‘Oscar’

An award of $25,000 is not life-changing money. But winning a Milken Educator Award is a life-changing event, several past recipients said Monday during an assembly in which Blue Valley Northwest High School teacher William Smithyman received his honor from Lowell Milken.

Lowell Milken is a successful businessman who co-founded the Milken Family Foundation with his brother, financier and former “junk bond king” Michael Milken. Michael Milken has focused on medical research and awareness, while Lowell Milken has made education the focus of his philanthropic endeavors.

The award was first given out in 1987, and now the foundation gives out up to 40 Milken Educator Awards each year. Teacher magazine called it “the Oscars of teaching.”

The fact that Smithyman was to receive the award was kept secret from him and the 1,600-member student body until the moment of the presentation.

An English and language arts teacher, Smithyman had a look of shock on his face as the announcement was made and looked like he might cry several times during the ceremony. He kept it together, though, as he accepted his $25,000 check and kudos from his colleagues.

In typically humble style, he said there were many other Blue Valley Northwest teachers who deserved the award before he did.

“It’s easy to be an outstanding educator in a school like this, with students who care,” Smithyman said later.

His colleagues and students, however, said Smithyman was well deserving of the honor.

Principal Amy Murphy, herself a 2001 Milken Educator Award winner, said Smithyman goes above and beyond expectations to help his students. As an example, she said, “He’s giving up his three-day weekend this weekend to do a leadership conference for students. He feels like we need to do more to develop leaders in the building. They’re doing a lock-in from Thursday to Friday.

“He’s constantly working with kids, well after they are out of his classroom, to get their SAT scores better, to prepare college essays and the like,” she said.

There is objective evidence, too, of Smithyman’s success as a teacher. His students consistently beat national, state and district average scores on the PSAT. And last year’s Advanced Placement language scores were the highest in the school’s 22-year history.

The 37-year-old Smithyman is a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest. It’s the only school in which he has worked during his 15-year career in education.

“He connects with us so much,” said sophomore Mason Mead. “He’s from here, so he knows what we’re going through.”

“You can definitely tell he loves his job,” said sophomore Payton Million. “It’s cool that he graduated from here and came back to teach.”

Lowell Milken said the $25,000 award, which the recipient may spend in any way he or she wishes, has a couple of purposes. It’s a monetary boost to someone who has, in all likelihood, made a financial sacrifice to work as a teacher. And it’s designed to inspire students in the audience to consider working in the field.

“We don’t do enough to support and honor and recognize the work of our talented teachers,” Milken said. “In sports, we have Most Valuable Player awards and Olympic gold medals. In entertainment there are a whole host of awards. But the one profession that prepares all the others there is seldom a point that celebrates them, and that never made sense to me.”

Milken noted that a teacher may not apply for the award. “We find you,” he said, working conjunction with state boards of education.

Milken’s face was beaming as he walked around Smithyman’s classroom after the assembly, chatting with students and administrators.

In addition to the monetary award, Smithyman joins roughly 2,600 past winners as part of the fraternity of Milken Educator Award winners. They get together on the state level yearly and are invited to national gatherings, too.

“You get the opportunity to work with incredible people and network across the state and the country,” said Murphy, who was associate principal for curriculum and instruction at Blue Valley North High School when she won the award. “These are people I can call on for ideas, support and encouragement. It makes a world of difference.”

Sitting in Murphy’s office after a whirlwind hour of photo opportunities and interviews, Smithyman finally had a moment to consider what he might do with his prize money.

“I really need new kitchen countertops,” he said.

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 6:08 PM with the headline "BV Northwest teacher honored with teaching’s ‘Oscar’."