Southern Miss Alumna Surprised with $25K Milken Educator Award

Fri, 11/21/2025 - 01:37pm | By: Karelia Pitts

For the second year in a row, the Milken Family Foundation traveled from California to Mississippi to bestow the Milken Educator Award (the "Oscar of Teaching") on a two-time graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi. Kayla Saxton, a Golden Eagle and third-grade English/language arts teacher at Mannsdale Upper Elementary School in Madison, Miss., received the news during a surprise school assembly. Click here to watch.

Saxton was recognized as one of only 30 teachers in the country and the only one in Mississippi for the 2025-26 school year. The honor is bestowed annually upon outstanding educators across the nation for their exceptional dedication, innovation and leadership. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the prestigious national recognition includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.

“I was so shocked to hear my name called. I am honored to represent Madison County as well as The University of Southern Mississippi,” said Saxton. “My time at Southern was so fruitful and filled with wonderful professors and experiences that truly shaped me into the educator that I am today. I am so blessed to do what I love and grateful that USM has been a huge part of my success!”

Saxton is the 80th recipient since Mississippi joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1991. Her Southern Miss degrees include a Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 2018 and Master of Education in elementary education in 2021. Saxton is also a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), demonstrating her mastery of the highest professional standards in the teaching profession.

“We are thrilled that Mrs. Saxton has been recognized with such a distinguished honor! Watching our graduates succeed and make an impact is what inspires us every day,” said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at Southern Miss. “We celebrate her achievement and the difference she is making for her students and community.”

Southern Miss is consistently ranked first in Mississippi and in the top 12 institutions nationally for producing NBCT. There are 24 Milken Educators who are graduates of The University of Southern Mississippi, including 2024-25 honoree Amanda Duplessy ’07, ’12.

“Having been in Kayla’s shoes a year ago, it was such a joy to be present as a fellow Golden Eagle received this amazing honor,” said Duplessy. “The Milken Foundation does a wonderful job of spotlighting great educators across our nation and provides an incomparable network of support for recipients. I’m thrilled to have Kayla as part of our Mississippi Milken family now!”

For more information about the Milken Educator Award, click here. Click here to learn more about the USM School of Education.