East Boston history teacher Elizabeth Metts receives Massachusetts’ sole 2025–26 Milken Educator Award and $25,000 prize
A surprise school assembly marks a national teaching honor
An East Boston high school teacher was awarded one of the country’s best-known educator prizes during a surprise ceremony on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Excel Academy Charter High School. Ninth-grade history teacher and team leader Elizabeth Metts received the Milken Educator Award, which includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize and induction into a national network of award recipients.
The presentation took place during an all-school assembly that included top state education officials. Metts was announced as Massachusetts’ only Milken Educator Award recipient for the 2025–26 school year and the state’s 52nd honoree since Massachusetts joined the program in 1997.
What the Milken Educator Award is and how recipients are selected
The Milken Educator Awards program, launched in 1987, recognizes early- to mid-career K–12 teachers, principals, and specialists. The award is structured as a surprise recognition rather than an application-based competition; recipients are identified through a selection process that does not include a formal nomination or application.
Beyond the cash prize, the program offers recipients professional opportunities, including mentorship structures and convenings intended to support leadership development within education. New recipients are also invited to attend a national forum in Washington, D.C., scheduled for June 12–14, 2026.
Classroom approach and broader school role
At Excel Academy Charter High School, Metts has been recognized for instructional methods designed to increase student engagement and accountability, including a flipped, self-paced classroom model with hands-on activities such as debates, gallery walks, and research projects. The school has reported growth in participation in AP World History during her tenure, with participation described as having doubled.
Metts’ responsibilities extend beyond her own classroom. The school and program materials describe her as a mentor to new teachers and a contributor to campuswide initiatives, including professional development, hiring support, and student academic programming.
- Role: Ninth-grade history teacher and team leader at Excel Academy Charter High School in East Boston
- Award: Milken Educator Award with an unrestricted $25,000 prize
- Status: Massachusetts’ sole recipient for the 2025–26 school year
Education and professional background
Metts is National Board Certified and has degrees from Princeton University, Teachers College at Columbia University, and the Charles Sposato Graduate School of Education. She is also affiliated with teacher-coaching work connected to the Sposato program.
The Milken Educator Awards program has recognized more than 3,000 educators nationwide over nearly four decades.
Excel Academy Charter High School is located on Bremen Street in East Boston and serves grades 9 through 12 as part of the larger Excel Academy Charter School organization.