When Brad Nicks went to school Tuesday morning, he didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. Then came the all-school assembly at Shawnee Heights High School where Nicks teaches math and physical education, serves as assistant athletic director, is on the football coaching staff and is the head track coach.
During the assembly, Nicks was as surprised as his bosses, co-workers and students when he was announced as a 2009 Milken Family Foundation National Educator. The honor brings with it a $25,000 cash prize and all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles next spring for the Milken Educator Forum.
“I was totally surprised,” Nicks said in a telephone interview after the announcement. “I’m still in shock.”
Although shock and awe were the order of his day, Nicks was quick to praise the education he received at Emporia State University.
“Emporia is the best teaching college there is,” he said, noting that he had “two great, great professors.
“Connie Schrock was just wonderful, so good at helping,” he said. “She had different techniques how to work with kids who don’t quite learn as fast as others.
“In PE, Kathy Ermler has so many different ideas. She tried to put us in different situations so you’d know how to respond.
“They helped get us prepared for teaching.”
The Rose Hill native said he’s kept in touch with both educators after graduating in December 1999. He took a long-term substitute teaching position before joining the Shawnee Heights staff in August 2000.
During his tenure at ESU, Nicks was a sprinter on the track team. He’s been married to his wife, Kelli, for “nine years in November.” The couple has a 3-year-old son, Joe.
Nicks’ family wasn’t at the assembly because his name was a closely guarded secret. Since Oct. 6, delegations from the Milken Family Foundation have been traveling the country surprising educators at school assemblies. At Shawnee Heights, Jane Foley, MFF senior vice president, was joined by Alexa Posny, Kansas commissioner of education; Dale Dennis and Diane DeBacker, deputy commissioners of education, as well as Shawnee Heights administrators.
The Milken foundation works with state boards of education to find Milken Educators. There is no application process.The awards began in 1987 when 12 California teachers were honored. The awards alternate between elementary and secondary educators and focus on teachers early in their careers.
“Its recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish,” according to the foundation.
In 2004, Nicks earned an educational administration degree from Baker University, but has no desire to move into a principal’s or superintendent’s office.
“I want to stay in the classroom and be around the kids,” he said.
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