Two Alaska educators win Milken awards

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Two Alaska educators have been honored with National Educator Awards from the Milken Family Foundation of Los Angeles.

The awards carry a prize of $25,000 for each recipient.

Sheila Wallace, a teacher at the Ayaprun Elitnaurvik charter school in Bethel and Susan Okeson, the Principal at Wonder Park Elementary School in Anchorage were notified Thursday that they had won. Educators are nominated for the award without their knowledge by a panel appointed by the state department of education.

Wallace is a graduate of the Lower Kuskokwim School District and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has been a teacher since 1994.

Okeson has been an elementary school principal for four years. She was honored with a Harvard Fellowship in leadership and technology.

They will receive the award next June in Los Angeles.