Big Year for Peoria Oakwood Principals Continues as Centennial High School Principal Named as a National Milken Educator

PEORIA - November 24, 2009 - The year 2009 will undoubtedly go down as a very big year for Peoria Unified School District principals.

Just weeks after announcing Oakwood Elementary principal Paul Bower had been named the 2009 National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Centennial High School principal Jim Davis was recently surprised with a $25,000 award when he was named a National Milken Educator by the Milken Family Foundation.

The award was given at an assembly in his honor. Davis, who originally planned the assembly to showcase his excelling school for the State Superintendent of Education, Tom Horne, didn't quite know what was going on when Milken Family Foundation vice president Jane Foley took the microphone and began talking about the award.

"I have participated in several Milken award ceremonies before, and there is nothing quite like watching a surprise recipient receive a $25,000 check," said Horne.

Horne kicked off the program by congratulating the students and staff for their excelling status. He then handed the microphone over to Foley, who presented the award to Davis.

"The award is a true reflection of the excellence at Centennial High School and I get the honor of representing us with the Milken Family Foundation," said Davis. "We have great students, teachers, support staff, counselors, administrators, and parents. Everyone is a contributor to our success and I am blessed to be on the Centennial team."

Established in 1987 to reward, retain and attract outstanding K-12 educators to the profession, the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award is the largest teacher recognition program in the United States. Since that time, the foundation has given more than $60 million in awards, celebrating the achievements of more than 2,400 educators throughout the country.