Milken surprises teachers with awards

By Emily Richmond

Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004 | 9:49 a.m.

Financier and philanthropist Michael Milken handed Parson Elementary School literacy specialist Sandra Brady a cell phone Wednesday morning and asked if there was anyone she would like to call and tell that she had just won a $25,000 award for teaching excellence.

She dialed her son, Metro Police SWAT Officer Jesse Brady, waking him from what he later said was a deep sleep. Milken took the phone and quickly explained that his family's foundation handed out just 100 of the awards each year to teachers across the country.

"I almost hung up on you," Jesse Brady told Milken, after arriving at the Thom Boulevard campus near Craig Road to congratulate his mother. "I thought it was a crank call."

When Milken called her name at a surprise assembly in the school's cafeteria, Sandra Brady, who has a Ph.D. in education, quickly shook her head and said, "No, no, no" before bursting into tears. As students called out "We love you, Dr. Brady," she hugged Milken and Parson Principal Steve Rudish.

Brady, 56, has spent 32 years in education, including 11 years working with Rudish.

"I can call her up at 8 p.m. and say 'I have some ideas, meet me at the school' and she'll beat me there," Rudish said. "She's dedicated, tireless and devoted to her students."

As a literacy specialist Brady works with individual students as well as coaching other teachers on how to better help their own classes.

Christine Meacham, vice president of Parson's PTA, said her own children thrived under Brady's tutelage.

There was some irony to Brady's award Wednesday -- a partisan fight over education funding during the 2003 Legislature led to Superintendent Carlos Garcia temporarily eliminating literacy and technology specialist positions and instead assigning those individuals to classroom positions. That order was revoked after the budget was finalized.

Brady said when she works with new teachers she encourages them to hold on to the joy of teaching while wading through the slew of demands for achievement made by state and federal officials.

"Relax and enjoy the children," said Brady, who has authored close to 20 books on professional development and literacy education. "That's one of the hardest things to do because all kinds of things are thrown at us. It's tough sometimes to find a balance."

A selection committee appointed by the Nevada Department of Education, makes recommendations for recipients to the Milken Family Foundation. The members of the committee are not identified and recipents' names are kept secret until the award is presented at a school assembly.

Milken, whose family has handed out more than $50 million to nearly 2,000 teachers since establishing the award in 1985, said he thrives on the element of surprise.

"I never get tired of this -- never," Milken said. "These are individuals who dedicate their lives to improving the lives of children. We read about them for six months (during the selection process) and my reward is actually getting to meet them in person."

And Milken wasn't done in Las Vegas -- his motorcade headed north to James Bilbray Elementary School where kindergarten teacher Judy Piccininni was the next to be surprised.

She almost missed hearing her name called by Milken and Bilbray Principal Bridget Bilbray-Phillips, daughter of the veteran Nevada legislator for whom the school is named.

"I have 26 students -- I was making sure they were sitting on their bottoms and paying attention," said Piccininni, 34.

Her mother, Candy Bailey, said she was thrilled to be able to attend the surprise assembly. Piccininni was a "natural teacher" even as child, frequently using her young nieces and nephews as practice students, Bailey said.

Piccininni, a 1988 graduate of Chaparral High School and UNLV in 1994, said she was "completely blown away" by the award.

"It's never been just a job to me," Piccininni said. "You don't do it for the $25,000 (prize), you do it for the kids in your class. When you love what you do you'll never be done -- and I'll never be done."

Piccininni celebrated her award with not just her mother but also her two young daughters -- both Bilbray students -- and her husband, Steve Piccininni, a math and science project facilitator in the school district's curriculum and professional development division.

Bilbray-Phillips said while her school staff is full of dedicated and talented teachers, Piccininni is clearly "a star." Educators from other schools are frequent visitors to her classroom, picking up tips and techniques for more effective kindergarten instruction, Bilbray-Phillips said.

Recipients take part in a black-tie gala celebration in Washington, D.C., and meet with national legislators for a series of workshops.