Lacy Rivera Named 2023 Lowell Milken Center Fellow
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Lacy Rivera, a 6th Grade teacher at Sundance Elementary School.
The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Mrs. Rivera was the 2019 New Mexico Milken Educator. Her previous experience included teaching high school English and serving as a Professional Learning Coach. The relationships she built with so many teachers and students helped strengthened her collaborative skills with colleagues, as well as her own teaching skills when she made the transition back to the classroom at Sundance Elementary.
Working with curriculum is one of Mrs. Rivera's strengths, enabling her to engage in very critical ideas of learning, while encouraging students to look at society and define their roles within it. With her guidance, students learn to analyze critically and express themselves powerfully. She will be moving to 4th grade this fall, hoping to reinforce her belief that elementary students can be empowered through stories, especially stories of the past, which embolden them to take action today and envision a brighter future for tomorrow.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “We look forward to working with Lacy during the 2023 LMC Fellowship. Her experience as both a classroom educator and a Professional Learning Coach will bring an important skill set to our team. We are thrilled that she will be joining us this year.”
While in Fort Scott in June, LMC Fellows gained knowledge, educational resources and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning through the creation of projects that initiate positive change. Fellows were equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.