Crestview Middle Teacher Receives Prestigious Milken Educator Award

Meghan Menchella, a Crestview Middle eighth-grade social studies teacher, was named a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award during a school assembly on Nov. 17. Menchella has taught at Crestview since 2015.

Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop and Missouri State Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven were on hand to present the award, which came as a surprise to Menchella, in front of a gym full of cheering students and colleagues.

"I am so thankful to work in a building with such fantastic staff. I'm so grateful to be at Crestview, in this community," Menchella said. "To the students in front of us -- you're the reason we come to school every day. There is somebody in this building who cares about you, who comes here for you. We hope that you can see that, and we're grateful to have you in our classrooms."

The award recognizes outstanding K-12 educators nationwide for their excellence and leadership in the profession and provides recipients with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize to match the significance of their job.

“Meghan Menchella shines as a leader, educator and storyteller,” said Bishop. “History is full of stories; it takes the right educator to not only share those stories to young learners, but to also instill a sense of impact. Menchella’s engaging instruction encourages students to truly delve into history as it stands today. I am thrilled to say that Meghan is now a part of our Milken Educator Awards history. Congratulations!”

Menchella is one of two Milken Educator Award recipients in the St. Louis area.

“We are thrilled to have the Milken Family Foundation recognize one of Missouri’s exceptional teachers with this award,” said Vandeven. “The hard work that Meghan does every day to help educate the whole student in her classroom is truly inspiring to see.”

Prior to becoming a Milken Educator, Menchella was named a Regional Teacher of the Year by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Rockwood Teacher of the Year and Crestview Middle Teacher of the Year in 2020. She earned a bachelor’s degree in middle school social studies education in 2016 from Lindenwood University and a master’s degree in instructional technology in 2018 from Southwest Baptist University.

“Meghan demonstrates many qualities of an exceptional, innovative teacher,” said Assistant Principal Dr. Jessica Bergtholdt. “She makes American history come alive for her students on a daily basis. She always takes the extra time and care to plan thoughtful lessons that engage all students, highlight diversity and promote inclusion. It is common to see multiple perspectives being shared and discussed within her classroom.”

Created by Lowell Milken in 1987, the Milken Educator Awards publicly recognize excellence in teaching not only to inspire educators but also students and communities to “Celebrate, Elevate and Activate” the American K-12 teaching profession.