2007 Milken National Educator Award Recipients

Michael P. Arsenault

Math teacher Michael Arsenault combines exceptional content knowledge with creative and innovative teaching strategies at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs. Teaching a variety of math subjects including geometry, advanced algebra, functions, statistics and trigonometry, Arsenault helps students learn through relevant, real-world applications of their learning. Students in his Consumer Math class complete sample tax returns, play the stock market, and use area and linear calculations to furnish a small apartment with a limited budget. Formerly an information technology manager, senior application developer and Webmaster in the private sector, Arsenault is a leader in incorporating technology into his teaching and training fellow teachers on how to do the same. His instruction has helped students achieve consistent gains on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP). Arsenault has significantly grown and strengthened the Student Council as its sponsor over the past three years. He represents the math department on the building technology committee and leads a committee that examines assessment data to drive instruction. He also lectures on math for elementary educators at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Daniel Uyechi

Math specialist Daniel Uyechi's highly effective teaching has helped raise math achievement at Sierra Middle School in Parker. To help improve performance on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP), Uyechi implemented a strategy called PoP (Power of Pairs), in which highly successful Algebra I students are paired during the school's extended learning time with students in Pre-Algebra who need tutoring. As a result, both groups of students showed gains in math ability and understanding. When several of his students' literacy skills were hampering their understanding of a newly adopted math textbook, Uyechi collaborated with the school's literacy teacher to develop reading strategies for those students. As a result of his outstanding instruction, his students consistently achieve high scores on the district-wide end-of-year algebra assessment. As chair of the math department for two years, Uyechi led teachers in developing common standards-based assessments and a curriculum map to align the curriculum at Sierra. He was subsequently appointed to lead a Vertical Math Team to align the curriculum for all grades in the feeder area.