North Dakota Educator Wins Milken Award

The highly prestigious honor is referred to by many as the Oscar of teaching.

FARGO, N.D. – A Northern Cass elementary school teacher got quite a surprise Friday morning.

Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller made a special stop at Northern Cass to announce that the school did indeed have a 2024-2025 award winner.

That would be second grade teacher Jessica Stoen, who received a check for $25,000.

Stoen was in shock and was grateful to have her students and her son by her side as she was presented the award.

“I am where I am meant to be,” she said with great emotion. “I was born to be a teacher. I was born to be in the classroom. This is my heart, my soul, my passion, my calling – is to be with these littles – to be with these kids.”

Stoen is the only recipient in North Dakota this school year and the first-ever in Northern Cass.

She will have the opportunity to travel to the Milken Educator Awards forum in Los Angeles in April.

The Milken Educator Award is hailed by many as the “Oscar of teaching.” It was created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken in 1987.