Trenton Teacher Receives $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Katherine Delvaux was surprised with the prestigious national award during a school assembly in Trenton.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Awards

Bold vector editorial illustration of a stack of books topped with a red apple, representing an educational award. — Katherine Delvaux of Trenton's Carroll Robins Elementary School was awarded a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for her classroom excellence. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Katherine Delvaux, an English as a second language teacher at Carroll Robins Elementary School, was awarded a $25,000 unrestricted prize. The recognition comes from the Milken Family Foundation, which selects educators confidentially without a formal nomination process.

Why it matters

The award honors outstanding educators for their dedicated work in the classroom and provides them with significant financial support. Recipients are chosen by review panels to highlight excellence in the teaching profession.

The Milken Educator Award provides $25,000 in unrestricted funds to winners. Delvaux is the 39th educator in New Jersey to receive the honor since 2002.

The players

Katherine Delvaux

She is an English as a second language teacher at Carroll Robins Elementary School in Trenton who received the national award.

Milken Family Foundation

This organization sponsors the annual award program to honor educators, having started the tradition in 1987.

Lowell Milken

He serves as the chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation which oversees the educator recognition program.

The details

During a surprise assembly, Delvaux was honored for her role at Carroll Robins Elementary School. She plans to use the funds to assist with student loans, family travel, and college savings for her children.

1987 marks the year the Milken Family Foundation started the award program.
2002 was the year New Jersey educators first began receiving the prize.
2026-10-22 is the date Katherine Delvaux received the award at a school assembly.

Culture Shift

The Milken Family Foundation educator award program follows a specific, confidential selection model for recognizing teachers that contrasts with typical open-application grant systems. This approach represents a shift in professional recognition by prioritizing merit through internal evaluation rather than public self-nomination.

The award serves as a spotlight on the instructional quality at Carroll Robins Elementary School and highlights the support available to educators. Residents may see increased community pride and awareness of the school's role in the local educational landscape.

The takeaway

This award recognizes the essential contributions of teachers by providing them with the financial flexibility to manage personal obligations. Educators and community members can view this as a model for how high-level support can directly impact the lives of local professionals.