2 D.C. teachers win $25,000

Two D.C. public school teachers received early holiday gifts yesterday — $25,000 each — for inspiring students and excelling in their careers.

The teachers received the surprise awards during assemblies at Banneker Senior High School in Northwest and Thomas Jefferson Junior High School in Southwest.

Kim Burke Ables, an advanced-placement science teacher at Banneker, and Jonathan Jou, an English-as-a-second-language teacher at Jefferson, are the first D.C. teachers to win the $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards.

Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder, presented the awards.

“I’m a person who thinks teachers and principals have the most important jobs in the country,” he said.

“One teacher has the power to influence a young person’s life. Every successful person will tell you that one or two teachers helped them get where they are today.”

He also said teachers often go unheralded while athletes, scientists and other professionals are routinely recognized with everything from Most Valuable Player awards to Nobel prizes.

“Isn’t it interesting the teaching profession, which makes it happen, has never been recognized?” he asked before announcing the award recipients.

Ms. Burke Ables, 32, appeared on the brink of tears when Mr. Milken announced her name.

Thunderous applause erupted inside the school gymnasium as the popular and petite science teacher approached the podium to receive her check.

She received congratulations from guests that included Paul L. Vance, D.C. schools superintendent; former Education Secretary William J. Bennett; retired NFL star Roosevelt Grier; Rene Islas, an Education Department special assistant; and Philip Bigler, a 1999 award recipient for his work in Fairfax County schools.

“I must say first [that] I owe it all to God,” Ms. Burke Ables said.

“When you have favor with God, you have favor with man. I want to thank my students and the staff and all of the teachers who have been so supportive of me. Thank you, Ms. Tucker and Mr. Vance. I just hope I can continue to pour out what you have given me.”

Ms. Burke Ables said she plans to donate some of the money to the school and use the remainder to further her own education.

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