Surprise! Teacher's a big winner

DURHAM -- It's not often that a teacher makes his students erupt in happy tears. But several Jordan High School students were crying Friday, beaming proudly after their favorite teacher, Stuart Albright, got a $25,000 national educator award in a surprise assembly.

The Milken Family Foundation's award to Albright, an English instructor and assistant football coach, was one of about 80 given to U.S. teachers this year, and the only one in North Carolina.

"He contributes so much to each and every one of our lives," said senior Erika Stewart, 17. "We couldn't think of anyone who deserves it more."

Albright was standing in Jordan's auditorium at the morning assembly with his colleagues and students, all of whom thought they had been brought there to celebrate Jordan's graduation rate.

State school superintendent June Atkinson did talk about graduation rates. Then she called Jane Foley of the Milken foundation to the microphone.

The California-based group, founded by businessmen and philanthropists Michael and Lowell Milken, supports education and advancements in medicine. Albright, the state's only recipient this year, joins 42 other North Carolina teachers who have received the honor during the past 12 years.

It's the best part of the job for Foley, a Milken senior vice president who gets to travel and deliver the news. She stood in front of the audience and said, "We've been keeping a secret for about a month." Mumbles erupted through the audience. Students looked around.

"As a society, we are quick to recognize excellence in other fields," she said mentioning the Heisman Trophy and the Nobel Prize. "Isn't it odd that the one profession that prepares you for every other profession hasn't had that celebration." The educator awards are the Oscars of the teaching industry, she said.

When Foley announced the winner, Albright was rushed to the stage by a co-worker and blinked at the large check staring back at him. His eyes glistened with tears.

"Al-bright! Al-bright," the students cheered in a standing ovation.

"This is really unexpected," Albright said. He credited his achievements to the students with whom he has worked. "You all are a phenomenal group of young men and women."

The 29-year-old teacher has been honored before, with recent Teacher of the Year titles from both Jordan and the school district. In addition to English, he teaches creative writing, and he developed his own book company so he could publish student work.

Albright also has written a book, titled "Blessed Returns," and is working on a second, "Community of Saints," profiling 10 of the state's high-school football coaches.

He will travel to California in March to attend an education conference, all expenses paid, and is allowed to use the $25,000 as he wishes. Albright said he plans to donate some of the money to Jordan's football program, and the rest will allow him to forgo a summer job. Instead, he plans to use the time to finish his book, he said.

He shrugged off any suggestion that he is a "great" teacher and said he instead hoped the award would bring attention to the impressive things going on at the school.

Representatives from the Milken foundation found out about Albright through state administrators, who every year compile a "talent pool" of educators in the state's schools.

"You don't find us," Foley said. "We find you."