CODY — Cody High School Principal Nathan Tedjeske is the latest Wyoming educator to win the prestigious Milken Educator Award, called the “Oscars of Teaching.”
And nobody was more surprised than he was, which showed on his face when Tedjeske was announced as the winner in front of an all-school assembly at CHS on Wednesday morning.
Tedjeske had been watching the assembly with the polite interest of a high school principal, then went wide-eyed and slack-jawed while his students gave him a standing ovation. He remained speechless has he shook hands, received hugs and was presented with a giant check for $25,000, which comes with the national award.
“We’ve been planning this assembly for three or four weeks,” Tedjeske said, admitting he was pretty much clueless about the real reason for the gathering. “And (I’ve) been telling my staff, ‘I’m not really sure what we’re doing this morning.’ So, no” he had no clue.
All For Him
Tedjeske was told to organize the event for a visit from Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.
Degenfelder did indeed attend the assembly, along with representatives from U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, Representative Sandy Newsome and Senator Tim French from the Wyoming Legislature, and the Park County School District No. 6 Board of Trustees.
“We have a bit of a surprise for you today,” Degenfelder said to the Cody High School students gathered in the gymnasium. “We're here for an even more exciting reason.”
Degenfelder handed the microphone to Stephanie Bishop, a representative of The Milken Family Foundation from Santa Monica, California. Bishop, a drama teacher who won the Milken Award in 2001, energetically presented the details of the award to the students.
“In sports, athletes get gold medals and Heisman trophies,” she said. “Entertainers get American Musical Awards and Oscars. In science in medicine, there are Nobel Prizes. But consider for a moment: Isn’t it odd that the educators, the ones preparing all of the others getting the awards, haven't been part of the celebration? We're here to fix that.”
Bishop then used a handful of Cody High School students to reveal the unrestricted cash prize given to each Milken Award recipient. Each student held up a number, with Degenfelder adding a final zero to reveal a total of $25,000.
Milken Award recipient Nathan Tedjeske gets a hand with his oversized $25,000 check from visiting dignitaries and colleagues. From left, Wyoming Department of Education Communications Director Linda Finnerty; Park County School District #6 Assistant Superintendent Tim Foley; Park County School District #6 Superintendent Vernon Orndorff; recipient Nathan Tedjeske (WY '23); Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder; Wyoming Department of Education Teacher Leadership and Awards Consultant Madison Lacey; and Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop. (Courtesy Milken Family Foundation) 
An unsuspecting Principal Nathan Tedjeske kicks off the assembly at Cody High School. (Courtesy Milken Family Foundation) 
Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop gets some help from Cody High School students to display the monetary prize that comes with a Milken Educator Award. The volunteers hold up cards representing the amount, one digit at a time. When Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder shows everyone the third zero, there's a collective gasp. (Courtesy Milken Family Foundation) 
Cody High School's jazz band performs for the crowd in the gym. (Courtesy Milken Family Foundation)
No Idea
“Now, it is time to tell you the secret,” Bishop said. “Superintendent Degenfelder, may I have the envelope, please?”
Students provided a knee-slapping drum roll as the envelope was opened. When Bishop announced that the Milken Award recipient was “your principal, Nathan Tedjeske,” the gymnasium erupted in cheers and applause.
“It’s been such a privilege just getting to know you over the last year and a half,” Degenfelder said, “And we know he has no idea. This was a total surprise, and hopefully you fell for it. Did you have any idea?”
Nope.
Tedjeske was introduced to three other Wyoming Milken Award recipients who attended the assembly. Among them was Shannon Hill, a Thermopolis Middle School teacher who received the award in 2017; and Megan Park, the assistant principal at Gannett Peak Elementary School in Lander, who was surprised at her own Milken Award assembly March 12.
A Testament To You
“Through innovative approaches like ‘High-Impact Fridays,’ Tedjeske provides students with the opportunity to accelerate student learning toward grade-level benchmarks as well as take advantage of sample career and technical education (CTE) classes,” the Milken Family Foundation said in a statement. “Additionally, Tedjeske’s strategic planning and partnership with local business leaders – which he started as principal of Cody Middle School — continue to grow internship and apprenticeship opportunities for Cody High School students.”
The Milken Educator Award recognizes exceptional educators for outstanding dedication to excellence in education. Tedjeske is one of 68 educators to receive the award in the 2023-2024 school year.
After many hugs and handshakes and the presentation of the overly large check, Tedjeske thanked his Cody High School students.
“I'll be honest,” he said. “It's all a testament to you. We talk so often about how great our students are. I can't say it enough. You have amazing teachers and people that work very hard. I'm just blessed that this is where I work every day. Thank you.”
In the spirit of the Milken Educator Award, Bishop congratulated Tedjeske and delivered a final message to his students.
“I do have a favor to ask of your students,” she said. “Keep this going. Today, find those teachers who have made a difference for you. Find them and say thank you. Maybe one day I'll speak to one of them. And maybe one day, some of you will consider the teachers and principals and be standing where Mr. Tedjeske is standing today. Congratulations and thank you.”
With that, Principal Tedjeske ended the assembly and sent the students back to their classes as Wyoming’s newest Milken Educator Award recipient.
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
