Mobile teacher wins $25k national award known as the “Oscars for teachers”

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Mobile Teacher Award E1738774816874
Mary Travis was surprised this week with a 2024-25 Milken Educator Award. (University of South Alabama)

A 5th-grade math and science teacher for Mobile County Public Schools has been recognized among the best educators around the country.

The Milken Educator Awards targets early-to-mid career education professionals for their already impressive achievements and, more significantly, for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future.

And Mary Travis did enough to earn the state’s sole award for 2024-25, earning a $25,000 prize too. Here’s everything you need to know about her + the accomplishment.

Mary Travis

Mary Travis, who graduated from the University of South Alabama, has taught at Gilliard Elementary School for the last 10 years.

She was dressed up as Gilly the Gator, the school’s mascot, for a school assembly but instead of just performing for the kids, she got the surprise of a lifetime.

The school announced Travis would become the 42nd recipient in Alabama since the state joined the Milken Educator Awards in 1998. She also received an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.

“Is this real? Is this a dream where I’m standing in front of a crowd of people in a gator suit?… I couldn’t believe that this would happen to me, ever, because I’m just doing my job, which I truly love to do. I didn’t know I was up for a nomination or anything.”

~ Mary Travis via University of South Alabama

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Caleb Turrentine
Caleb Turrentine
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