Milken National Educator Awards

Lowell and Michael Milken and members of the Milken families conceived the National Educator Award program in the early 1980s. They saw the importance of recognizing great educators and developed a program that provides public recognition and financial rewards to outstanding educators. The first awards were presented to 12 California educators in 1987. Each educator in the program is given a $25,000 unrestricted financial award and the opportunity to participate in ongoing professional development at yearly state conferences, an annual National Education Conference, and through state networks of educators, state agency personnel, legislators, university personnel, business partners, and foundation staff. New Jersey joined the Milken National Educator Awards in 2002 as the 45th state to participate.

Milken National Educator Honorees

Name: Katherine Delvaux

Subject(s) Taught: 1^st Grade ESL Teacher

School: Carroll Robbins Elementary School

District: Trenton School District

Video: Katherine Delvaux Milken National Notification

Katherine Delvaux is a first-grade ESL teacher at Carroll Robbins Elementary School in the Trenton School District with 11 years of experience in education. She holds a Master of Education from Boston University and has dedicated her career to supporting multilingual learners through innovative, student-centered instruction that builds both academic achievement and student confidence.

Mrs. Delvaux is recognized for her effective use of technology to accelerate language development and increase student engagement. She creates authentic learning experiences that allow students to develop vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through projects such as student-created digital “I Spy” books, oral language recordings, and global classroom exchanges with students in other countries. Her work helped 57 percent of the multilingual learners she serves increase their language proficiency levels, while colleagues credit her differentiated, data-driven instruction with helping drive significant student growth.

A respected teacher leader, Mrs. Delvaux serves on numerous school leadership teams, including the School Leadership Team, Intervention and Referral Services Team, Climate and Culture Committee, Innovation Team, and Leader in Me Lighthouse Team. Through these roles, she helps guide school improvement efforts, supports student interventions, promotes positive school culture, and develops leadership opportunities for students. She also mentors colleagues by sharing instructional strategies and helping teachers integrate technology into classroom practice.

As a member of the school’s Apple Vanguard Team, Mrs. Delvaux has led professional learning for educators and was selected to present at Apple Education Stories of Success, where she shared how technology can empower multilingual learners. She has become a trusted resource for colleagues, frequently modeling instructional practices and providing support that strengthens teaching and learning across the school.

Beyond her classroom, Mrs. Delvaux is known for her commitment to student leadership, family engagement, and service to the school community. She helps lead the implementation of the Leader in Me framework, coordinates student ambassador announcements, supports schoolwide attendance initiatives, and advocates for students through her work with intervention teams. Colleagues describe her as a dedicated, collaborative educator who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure students, families, and fellow educators are successful.

Head shot of Jeanette Capritti

Name: Jeanette Capritti

Title: 7^th Grade English Language Arts Teacher

School: Lawrence Middle School

District: Lawrence Township School District

Video: Jeanette Capritti Milken National Notification

Jeanette Capritti leads with excellence, purpose, and heart as a seventh-grade English Language Arts teacher at Lawrence Middle School in Lawrenceville, NJ. Known for her magnetic energy and instructional creativity, she creates a classroom environment where students are inspired to think deeply, write authentically, and grow both academically and personally. Her innovative teaching includes immersive experiences, such as transforming her classroom into a science fiction landscape complete with lighting, costumes, music, and inquiry-based activities that draw students into the genre, alongside student-led storytelling that fosters voice, structure, and identity.

Jeanette’s efforts to foster critical thinking, student ownership, and meaningful engagement have led to measurable success. Her students consistently demonstrate significant growth in reading and writing, with exceptional student achievement results.

Beyond the classroom, Jeanette devotes lunch periods to tutor students, volunteers to chaperone student dances, and teaches literacy to at-risk students in the Summer Destinations Program to enhance academic success. She has led the development of a “Writing 2.0” elective course to strengthen student writing skills, designed grade-level common assessments and curriculum, and leads professional development in her district on best practices in writing instruction, which are carefully designed to be cross-curricular and accessible for teachers in any content area. Jeanette also mentors student teachers from Rider University, and guest lectures at The College of New Jersey where she inspires aspiring educators with her knowledge, passion, and experience. Her leadership in curriculum, care for students, and teacher support makes her a trusted and respected voice in her school and district.

Jeanette earned a Bachelor of Arts in English secondary education in 2019 and a Master of Education in literacy in 2024 both from The College of New Jersey.