Graduate student, fourth-grade teacher Shane Henderson receives Milken Educator Award

Shane Henderson, a fourth-grade teacher at Pittsboro Elementary School and a graduate student in UNC Pembroke’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program, has been named a Milken Educator Award recipient. The national honor includes a $25,000 cash award and recognizes early to mid-career educators who move learning forward.

The reveal came during a schoolwide assembly. Cameras swung toward the bleachers, his best friend whispered that they might be focused on him, and then his name was called. “I was in shock,” Henderson said. “My students ran over and hugged me. I kept thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’”

Henderson teaches reading with urgency and care. His fourth graders posted a 16-point increase in reading proficiency, with an overall pass rate of 75%. He tightened Tier 1 instruction, ran small groups that shifted based on the data, and built confidence. “You cannot Tier 2 your way out of a Tier 1 problem,” he said. “Every minute counts. The most powerful change was telling students they can do it, then showing them how.”

He checks learning daily with a Level of Understanding Google Form in Google Classroom. Students rate their level of understanding from Level 1 to Level 4 and explain what is not clicking. He uses those notes to reteach and to adjust groups the next day.

Henderson’s path runs through the same community he serves. He grew up in Chatham County, drove a school bus, worked as an instructional assistant and then taught first grade, where he served as grade-level chair and on the School Improvement and Behavior teams. “I’ll never forget where I came from,” he said. “I jump in where I’m needed.”

UNCP helped Henderson sharpen his craft. “The coursework and mentorship in the M.Ed. program strengthened how I design standard-aligned lessons and use data with purpose,” said Henderson. He also credited Dr. Kelly Ficklin for her steady guidance.

Henderson will graduate in December and plans to keep boosting student growth while mentoring peers and exploring future leadership roles.

Campus leaders praised Henderson for his recognition.

“Shane’s Milken Educator Award reflects exactly what we value in the Elementary Education M.Ed. program,” said Dr. Kelly Ficklin, associate professor and graduate director for elementary education. “He is a reflective, equity-focused teacher leader. He builds inclusive classrooms, utilizes data effectively and fosters strong family partnerships. I am very proud of Shane and excited for what he will do next.”

Shane’s award shines a national spotlight on talent in our region. He leads with vision and heart. Students do not just learn in his class, they discover their potential.

Henderson will join the Milken Educator Network for mentorship and leadership development in the year ahead. “I want to learn from educators across the country and bring that learning back to my students and my school,” he said.

About the Milken Educator Award
The Milken Educator Award honors K-12 educators across the United States with public recognition and a $25,000 prize. Recipients are surprised at school events and join a national network focused on elevating the profession.