Jackson educator wins “Oscar” of teaching

Jackson teacher Chris Bessonette was honored Friday as Wyoming’s winner of the 2018-19 Milken Educator Award.

Bessonette is a 2nd-grade dual immersion teacher at Munger Mountain Elementary School. The award includes a $25,000 cash prize.

The honor is sponsored by the Milken Family Foundation. It provides financial rewards to elementary and secondary teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country for the furtherance of excellence in education.

Bessonette’s students’ state assessments skyrocketed 20% in a single quarter. He engaged in dual immersion research studies and shared developments with colleagues and school district leadership to expand and enhance education for all. As part of his classroom effort, second-graders created a service, then explained why they chose it and who would be interested in it.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Graceland University in 1998 and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wyoming in 2011.

“Chris Bessonette is a fine example of the expertise of Wyoming educators and the relationships that Wyoming educators have with their students,” said Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman. “Chris activates the learning in each student through his hands-on and personal approach.”

You can learn more about the Milken Foundation here.