Cody High School students crowded the gymnasium and chattered excitedly while they waited for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder to speak. Students and staff, even Principal Nathan Tedjeske, did not know why Degenfelder was visiting them on a Wednesday morning.

The Cody High School band played welcoming music, three cameramen covered the event as well as a member of the school’s broadcast program. Sen. Tim French (R-Cody), Park County Sheriff Darrell Steward, representatives for U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, Rep. Sandy Newsome (R-Cody), the Park County School District 6 Board of Trustees and district  administrators, instructional leaders and directors were all present.

It turned out the big assembly was in Tedjeske’s honor. The Cody High School principal was deemed a “Milken Educator,” an honor given this year to only 68 educators across the country. Along with the prestigious title Tedjeske received a $25,000 cash prize he can use however he chooses. 

“It has been such a pleasure to get to know Principal Tedjeske during my first year in office,” said Superintendent Megan Degenfelder in a press release from the Milken Family Foundation. “His work to prepare students for individual pathways and real-world experiences rather than a traditional one-size-fits-all approach is truly unmatched.”

The cash amount was revealed with help from Stephanie Bishop, vice president of the Milken Educator Awards, Degenfelder and six students who each held a sign with a number. First, $2,500 was announced by the students, then Degenfelder added another zero. Tedjeske also will get an all expense paid trip to an education forum in Los Angeles in June.

“We should say thank you and recognize outstanding educators more often. Think about it, in sports athletes get gold medals and Heisman trophies, entertainers get American Music Awards, and Oscars … but consider for a moment, isn't it odd that the educators, the ones preparing all of the others getting the awards haven't been part of the celebration,” Vice President of the Milken Educator Awards Stephanie Bishop said. 

The program was founded by Lowell Milken over 35 years ago, she said, and the award conveys that excellence in education should be recognized.

Educators cannot apply for the award but are instead found by the Milken Family Foundation.

Tedjeske is the final Wyoming recipient for the 2023-2024 school year, joining Principal Megan Park of Lander who received the award in March, according to a release. Park and past recipients Walter Hartung and Shannon Hill were also in attendance. Bishop had previously received the award in 2001 before joining the Milken Family Foundation.

“I’ll be honest, it’s all a testament to you guys [he said to the students], you’re not privy to the conversations but we talk so often about how great our students are … it’s not just words you guys are really incredible,” Tedjeske said. “You have amazing teachers you have amazing people who work here, more than anything I’m just blessed to be where I’m at.”