During an all-school assembly Tuesday, Morgan County High School ag teacher Rachel Kinsaul was surprised with the $25,000 Milken Educator Award.
Dubbed the “Oscars of teaching,” the Milken Educator Awards recognize the best teachers across the nation. What makes the award special is teachers aren’t nominated for the award and do not submit applications. Candidates are chosen through a confidential selection process, and a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state department of education reviews the selections.
According to a press release from the Milken Family Foundation, the awards inspire educators, students, and communities to celebrate, elevate, and activate the K-12 teaching profession and encourage youth to pursue teaching as a career. The release said more than $75 million in individual financial prizes and more than $145 million in overall investments have been made since the awards’ inception nearly 40 years ago.
Kinsaul joins a national network of more than 3,000 Milken Educators. This year, she is the sole Georgia recipient of the award and the first in Morgan’s history. A maximum of 45 teachers across the nation will receive the award for 2024-25.
As part of the recognition, Kinsaul will attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum held in Los Angeles in April to connect with other 2024-25 recipients, veteran Milken Educators, and education leaders.
“Today, we honor Mrs. Kinsaul, and in doing so, we aim to shine a spotlight on all of the wonderful things happening here at Morgan County High School,” said Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop, who was also the 2021 Virginia Milken Educator.
Earlier this school year, Kinsaul was pivotal in opening the Morgan Agricultural Learning Lab. This lab houses the livestock showmanship program and enables more students to benefit from learning agricultural science.
She regularly drives a bus full of students to visit working farms around Morgan County, sponsors the Future Farmers of America, and leads students in community service projects through Sophomore Service Day. Kinsaul also teaches a floral design class, which includes a Floral Arrangement of the Month subscription service where students arrange and deliver floral arrangements to the community.
Kinsaul earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture (animal science) from the University of Georgia in 2009, followed by her master’s degree in agricultural leadership, education, and communication from the same university in 2011.
“You exemplify what we see across Georgia,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods told Kinsaul. “To be honest, I think every teacher in the state deserves this award, but you’ve been awarded today, and from everything I’ve heard, you’re an amazing, amazing teacher.”
Seeing Kinsaul’s students rush to hug and congratulate her, Wood said he thinks they would agree.
“On behalf of myself, the state of Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Education, congratulations,” Woods continued. “Keep up the great work. Thank you for representing all of our teachers in an amazing way, and enjoy this day and celebrate for the rest of your life.”
Kinsaul’s recognition was met with fanfare, complete with cheers and applause, a presentation to announce her financial award, and performances from the MCHS band and choir.
“I am completely shocked and was not expecting this, so I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Kinsaul said.
Following the assembly, Kinsaul was also named one of the 10 finalists for the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year (TOTY).
Woods presented Kinsaul with a certificate and a challenge coin-themed around “Lead to Achieve.”
Woods said the state TOTY will be announced in April.
“I think all of this says you’re an amazing leader on top of being a teacher,” he said about Kinsaul, exemplifying the challenge coin’s theme. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a Milken Educator and a top-10 finalist all in the same cycle. Lightning does strike twice.”
“I am honored, so again, thank you,” Kinsaul shared. “It’s been a special day. It’s been overwhelming.”