John Muir High School Teacher Wins National Teaching Award

A John Muir High School teacher was awarded a National Milken Educator Award in a surprise ceremony on Wednesday that was put on by the school.

Manuel Rustin, a social studies teacher at the school won the award, which comes with a no-strings-attached cash prize of $25,000.

District officials had the following to say about Rustin:

Mr. Rustin, the lead teacher for John Muir High's Arts, Entertainment and Media (AEM) College & Career Pathway was instrumental in the overall redesign of the school four years ago into academies, and the AEM Pathway became certified in June 2011. In the four years since its reinvention, John Muir High School's academic performance index has risen by 78 points, graduation rates and attendance rates have improved, and the school has produced three Gates Millennium Scholarship winners.

The Awards program was conceived by Lowell Milken to recognize the importance of outstanding educators and encourage talented young people to enter the teaching profession, according to the district press release.

The Milken Educator Awards has no formal nomination or application process. Each year exceptional teachers, principals and specialists-recommended without their knowledge by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state's department of education-are surprised with the news of their awards.

Rustin did not know he was being nominated for the award, and appeared at the school assembly on Wednesday with no prior knowledge of the award.  A release had been sent out to local media to come cover the event, but not to share the news with readers.

According to the district's release, Rustin had the following to say at Wednesday's assembly after he recevied the award:

"One of the main things I love about Muir is how many great teachers we have. The award itself is an honor, but the greatest honor is being part of the Mustang family and teaching Mustangs how to get where they want to go. There's not a moment that I regret choosing to teach, and to come to Muir.  Four years ago, students, families, and staff came together and turned things around, and this award celebrates what we've accomplished.  As a teacher, it's all about working with students like you, connecting with you and motivating you to do your best."