Fulton educator wins ‘Oscar' of the teaching world

By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What started Tuesday morning as an academic pep rally quickly turned into one teacher's surprise of a lifetime, as the Milken Family Foundation named Fulton County's Gregory Ott one of its national teachers of the year.

Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com Greg Ott at Northwestern Middle School in Alpharetta learns on Tuesday that he has been named a national teacher of the year by the Milken Family Foundation.

Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com Seventh-grade teacher Greg Ott receives a suprise check for $25,000. At left is state School Superintendent Kathy Cox.

Wong, vwong@ajc.com Students packed the gymnasium at Northwestern Middle School in Alpharetta as the Milken prize, considered the 'Oscar' of the teaching world, was presented.

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Ott, who teaches seventh-grade language arts at Northwestern Middle School, is the foundation's only Georgia winner. The honor comes with an award of $25,000. The money has no strings attached, so Ott can spend it any way he wants.

The Milken awards, given out since 1987, are considered the Oscars of the teaching world. Fifty-three teachers nationwide have been selected for the honor this year.

What makes the award such a surprise is that there's no formal application process. Instead, names and success stories get passed along by word of mouth to a committee of educators in each state. That committee then investigates the good work, and passes on a recommendation to the foundation.

Fulton teacher Wendy McCarron, a math teacher at Northview High School, won a Milken in 2007.