Los Alisos teacher surprised with Milken Educator Award

NORWALK - The surprise of a lifetime took place for Norwalk teacher Angelica Gunderson Tuesday at Los Alisos S.T.E.M. Magnet Middle School.

Gunderson, who has taught at Los Alisos for 10 years, was given a $25,000 award for her excellence in the classroom and is among only 60 other recipients around the country this year to receive the Milken Educator Award.

She is also the first educator to receive the award from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District and only one from California this year.

The Milken Educator Awards were created by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. It recognizes teaching excellence publicly not only to inspire educators, but also students and entire communities about the importance of joining the teaching profession.

In attendance to give out the award was Greg Gallagher, Milken Educator Awards senior program director, along with California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and John Lopez, N-LM USD Superintendent.

“The universal quality of Milken educators is that they always think it’s somebody besides themselves,” Gallagher said. “I never heard an educator say, ‘I knew it was going to be me.’”

“They all are so humble and Angelica is doing some amazing things in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education. Her school is benefiting from it.”

In the assembly were a couple of classes of students and as soon as she was introduced, one yelled out, “that’s my teacher.”

“To see the students witness one of their favorite educators to receive an award, it’s so joyful,” said Gallagher, of the roomful of students in attendance. “Hopefully some of these students will continue on and become educators themselves, because we really need educators like Angelica.”

Sitting calmly in the audience of students and fellow teachers, Gunderson had no idea of the award until Gallagher called out her name.

“The money will go back into education,” said a surprised and appreciative Gunderson. “They (school officials) told me they had a sub for me for my second block (of classes), so I could be at this school assembly. I was worried about my other students and I was worried if this would go a little bit longer. I thought about going back to my classroom.”

It’s a good thing she didn’t, as the Chihuahua, Mexico-born Gunderson was mobbed by officials and students immediately following the ceremony.

“I don’t like the attention, but it’s really cool to join this group (former recipients),” she said. “It was really overwhelming.

“I’ve always known who I am and what I love to do. I just think of how much I can progress and I look back on my own progressions.”

Gunderson teaches Robotics, Computer Science and Engineering and even runs two after-school clubs for students.

“Originally, I was a science teacher but when the Robotics teacher left, I said I’d take it, but along with the position came two clubs and I thought ‘I don’t know if I can do two clubs and the kids really wanted the clubs.’”

Gunderson just started teaching her new classes two years ago. “It’s been really challenging,” she added.

Gunderson, a mother of two young children, Amelia (7) and Keith (11), was a 2021-22 “Project Lead the Way” Outstanding Teacher of the Year, one of only 79 to achieve that award across the nation. Gunderson is a teacher in the engineering program at Los Alisos, one of the first to implement Project Lead the Way in N-LMUSD, a Femineer coach, and also a part-time lecturer at CSU Long Beach

“I wish there was a way to provide this type of gift to every teacher in our state,” Thurmond said. “I think our teachers all deserve it. I’m grateful that (Tuesday) is a day to recognize one of the many incredible teachers in our state.

“Angelica has done incredible work, as evidenced by her students and their success. I’m just proud to be here and proud to witness this. Education helps you overcome barriers.”

Lopez, who introduced Thurmond to the assembly, added, “it’s a great moment for our district and a great moment for education. To have State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to come down here and acknowledge one of our teachers for her amazing work at this middle school here at Norwalk-La Mirada School District and recognize Mrs. Gunderson for all of her hard work and passion she puts in to education in Robotics, Engineering and Science, we’re humbled and so proud of her.”

The Milken Educator Awards, established in 1987 and funded by Lowell Milken believes, “The future belongs to the educated.”

Milken is a product of California’s public school system, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley, where he received the School of Business Administration’s Most Outstanding Student Award.

He went on to earn a law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, with academic honors of Order of the Coif and the distinction of UCLA Law Review.

The award recognizes teaching excellence publicly not only to inspire educators, but also students and entire communities about the importance of joining the teaching profession.

It has been described as “the Oscars of Teaching.” More than $140 million in funding, including $70 million in individual $25,000 awards, has been devoted to the overall initiative, which includes powerful professional learning opportunities throughout recipients’ careers.

The idea for the Milken Educator Awards started in the early 1980s when Lowell Milken, the chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation (MFF), began exploring strategies for strengthening the education profession. The first Awards were presented to a group of 12 outstanding teachers and administrators in California.

Lowell Milken also says on the Milken website, “We are looking for individuals who are early to mid-career who have distinguished themselves, but who have the potential to do so much more.”

Eight previous award winners were present to see Gunderson receive the award and they all congratulated her and told of their teaching history and what some of them used the award towards. A couple of them were even current school district superintendents.

It was an unrestricted award and one awards winner used a portion of the money towards her Masters in education.

What they said:

Tania Magana, Los Alisos Principal: “Education isn’t recognized enough and I think having one of our amazing teachers, who has so much for her students and the community, being recognized is (Tuesday) amazing.

She sets the bar for all of us and makes everyone else around her amazing. I’m so grateful that she was recognized.”

John Blaydes, 1988 Milken recipient: “In the beginning we were notified by phone, nothing like this. Now, it involves the students and staff and it’s much more communal and a wonderful experience.”

Nicole Brisco, Los Alisos teacher: “This is amazing. I’m so proud of Angelica Gunderson. She’s such an asset to our school and organization. She is very gifted in all areas and is part of our wonderful magnet program.”

Emmanuel Salazar, Los Alisos ASB President: “I’m very excited for her and I do believe that she does deserve this recognition. She’s an amazing teacher.

Eduwiges Ramirez, Angelica Gunderson’s mom: “I’m excited and happy and she’s the best. I’m very surprised and nobody told me until the last moment. My daughter is the best.”