Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary in New Orleans Area Receives $50,000 TAP Founder’s Award
Take a look inside Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary
Prestigious honor created by education reform pioneer Lowell Milken recognizes schools for exceptional implementation of TAP
TAP Founder Lowell Milken tonight surprised Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary School, located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the prestigious TAP Founder's Award for its exceptional implementation of the comprehensive school reform. Funded by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation, the national award comes with a $50,000 cash prize to help achieve TAP goals in subsequent school years.
Lowell presented the Award at the 9th Annual National TAP Conference, held at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Hundreds of TAP participants from across the country were in the audience, as well as other influential educators and leaders who are helping to shape the future of education.
"I am pleased to present Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff with the TAP Founder's Award for establishing 'teacher excellence, student achievement, and opportunities for all'," said TAP Founder Lowell Milken. "Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff has fully implemented the TAP elements with distinction and achieved notable value-added student achievement growth. The school also serves as an important resource of best practice and leadership to the region, state and nation."
Since adopting TAP in the 2003-04 school year, Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff—where roughly 75 percent of the diverse student body is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch—has strengthened the effectiveness of its faculty and demonstrated steady increases in student achievement.
Blanche Lincoln, U.S. Senator (AR)
"Teaching is the foundation of our future society and our economy and we should never forget that. The investment we make in it is critical, not just for our children, but for our country. We need more people to choose teaching and we need to keep the best people we have in the classrooms with our children. TAP is certainly helping to provide teachers with more choices and career opportunities while still allowing them to remain in the classroom. I look forward to this program reaching more classrooms in the future."
