FORT SCOTT, Kan. — The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kan., an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to fifth grade teacher, Sarah Compton, of Northside Elementary School in Monroe. Sarah Compton will arrive in Fort Scott on June 20 for a week of collaboration with LMC staff.
The LMC Fellowship is awarded on the basis of merit to educators who have distinguished themselves in teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning or who have the potential for this distinction. The Center selects exemplary teachers from across America and around the world, drawn from a variety of disciplines, to collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Sarah Compton has taught for 14 years at Northside Elementary, a K-5 school in Monroe. In addition to being a fifth-grade classroom teacher, Sarah has served in a variety of supplementary roles, which include serving as a new teacher mentor, a gifted and talented coordinator, and a professional development presenter. She has served on committees for literacy curriculum writing, math standards mapping, and school team leadership. Sarah is known for developing project-based learning opportunities for her students. Students in her class have been challenged to create public service announcements, to role-play being on a Congressional task force, and to invest in a stock market simulation. Sarah takes pride in building strong relationships with her students. Through those connections and Sarah’s focus on data-driven instruction, her students achieve significant academic growth each year.
In 2012, Sarah was awarded Monroe’s Crystal Apple Achievement Award. In 2018, Sarah was honored to become a Milken Educator, one of 31 from across the nation that year. Sarah is now serving on the Wisconsin DPI’s Teacher Leader Network, connecting current educators to the state superintendent’s office. She recently had the opportunity to serve as a mentor and presenter at the Teachers of Promise Institute. Sarah looks forward to continuing her professional growth, learning about new practices to support and challenge her students. She’s incredibly grateful for leadership opportunities that broaden her impact.
“Sarah is a leader in Wisconsin education, as she provides creative and critical thinking ideas for teachers and students,” LMC Executive Director Norm Conard said. “Her inclusion with many disciplines is ideal for her work with the Center.”
While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources and ongoing support to enhance their classrooms and help students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows emerge prepared to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, as they apply and evaluate the stories of role models who have changed the world throughout history.
