WINTERPORT, Maine – Husson University cheer and dance coach Hillary Hoyt was honored Tuesday afternoon in a surprise ceremony by the Milken Family Foundation.
Hoyt, a teacher at Leroy H. Smith School earned the 2021 Milken Educator Award.
"Being named a Milken Educator was a huge surprise and honor," said Hoyt. "It was indeed a golden moment in my teaching career so far. Getting to share the excitement with my school community was a memory that will last a lifetime."
Hoyt is one of only two educators in Maine and is among more than 60 educators nationwide to receive the Oscar of Teaching during the 2021-2022 school year and the first in RSU 22 School District history to be honored.
The Milken Family Foundation noted that they honored Hoyt for "her commitment to creativity in the classroom, focus on prioritizing children's individual needs to improve learning outcomes, and leadership both at her school and in her community. her commitment to creativity in the classroom, focus on prioritizing children's individual needs to improve learning outcomes, and leadership both at her school and in her community."
Hoyt had dressed up as Tigger for a readathon celebration for her class that day, but was in shock to find out that the organized celebration was for her.
A teacher by day, coach by night, Hoyt has been teaching at Leroy H. Smith school for the past nine years and her latest award adds to an accomplished resume. Last year, she was named the Waldo County Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the state Teacher of the Year.
Earlier in the month, she coached the cheer team to a championship and the dance team to top-five finishes in each of their three divisions at the New England All-Star Collegiate Cheer & Dance Championships in Rhode Island.
"This has been an incredibly exciting couple of weeks," said Hoyt. "I could not be more proud to be a part of Husson's cheer and dance teams. Coach Dickens and I have been so impressed with what the teams have achieved after having two years of not being able to compete in person. Coming back with such great accomplishments from the competition was a fantastic way to end our season and say goodbye to our nine seniors across both programs."
