Pawtucket English teacher garners Milken Educator Award for 2015

KENDRA BORDEN, making her way to the stage at Samuel Slater Junior High School in Pawtucket Wednesday morning, was awarded $25,000 by the Milken Family Foundation for being named Rhode Island's 2015 Milken Educator Award winner. / COURTESY MILKEN FAMILY FOUNDATION
KENDRA BORDEN, making her way to the stage at Samuel Slater Junior High School in Pawtucket Wednesday morning, was awarded $25,000 by the Milken Family Foundation for being named Rhode Island's 2015 Milken Educator Award winner. / COURTESY MILKEN FAMILY FOUNDATION

PAWTUCKET – Kendra Borden, an English teacher at Samuel Slater Junior High School, has been named Rhode Island’s 2015 Milken Educator Award winner.

The Milken Family Foundation awarded $25,000 in unrestricted cash to Borden. The surprise announcement was made at the school Wednesday morning. The awards program recognizes exceptional elementary- and secondary-school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in American schools.

“In her seven years in the teaching profession, Kendra Borden has earned respect and admiration from her colleagues and from her students,” said Ken Wagner, commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “This award she has received today, along with the Blue Ribbon recently awarded to the Francis J. Varieur School, shows that there’s good work going on in the Pawtucket schools.”

A Rhode Island College graduate and Johnston resident, Borden has been at Samuel Slater since she started her teaching career seven years ago. Besides her work as a classroom teacher, she is the credit-recovery coordinator for the school, the facilitator of the positive intervention and support team, and a member of the building leadership and curriculum writing teams. She also has worked as a writing teacher for the College Crusade Saturday Academy.

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Honoring Borden reflects her dedication to working in a middle school in an urban setting, added Barbara S. Cottam, chairperson of the Board of Education.

“Kendra Borden has been a positive influence on her students, her fellow teachers and her community, and this award recognizes the excellence she brings to the teaching profession and to the classroom every day,” said Cottam.

Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said Borden’s award follows on the heels of Cumberland High School Principal Alan Tenreiro’s selection as National Principal of the Year.

“In Rhode Island, we have some of the best teachers and principals in America,” said Raimondo. “Today’s selection of Kendra Borden as winner of a Milken Educator Award is further recognition of some of the great teaching and learning that takes place in our schools every day.”

This year the Milken Family Foundation will honor up to 40 educators.

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