During a surprise school-wide assembly at Princeton Primary School Thursday , Dr. Ernie Adkins, principal of Princeton Primary School, was honored as a recipient of the 2014 Milken Educator Award. Pictured, Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Education Awards, Adkins, and Michael Martirano, superintendent of West Virginia schools, gather for a photo following the presentation.
PRINCETON, W.Va. — A dedicated Mercer County educator, Dr. Ernie Adkins, principal of K-2 Princeton Primary School, was “overwhelmed” when he learned Thursday morning that he would receive an 2014 Milken Educator Award from the California-based Milken Foundation.
The award that is known as “the Oscars of teaching,” includes a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize in addition to the honor of joining an exclusive fraternity of public school educators in the U.S. According to Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Education Awards, Adkins is the only West Virginia educator to receive the award this year.
“I’m still processing what this means. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” Adkins said. “No one gets into education for the money. We do it because we love the kids, and they know that I do. That’s the thing about this job that makes me happy,” he said after the assembly in the Princeton Primary gymnasium.
“I’m overwhelmed by this,” Adkins said. “I’m here for the kids. I believe in education,” he said and returned to his original thoughts. “I am overwhelmed and honored…