Turner Elementary teacher wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award in surprise ceremony

*Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson walked award-winning teacher Lexcee Oddo in front of the assembly to the cheers of the students and teachers.*

What Turner Elementary School teacher Lexcee Oddo thought would be a routine assembly to honor retiring Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson turned into a life-changing moment when she learned she had won the prestigious Milken Educator Award, including a $25 thousand prize.

The surprise announcement came during a schoolwide assembly Wednesday morning, when Jennifer Fuller, Vice President of the Milken Educator Awards, took the stage before hundreds of excited students, staff members, and dignitaries.

“Lexcee Oddo leads with compassion, kindness and a commitment to help all English language learners excel at Turner Elementary School,” Fuller told the assembled crowd. “Drawing from her curriculum knowledge and classroom experience, Lexcee helps students shine by building confidence, a passion for learning, and a determination to achieve their goals.”

Oddo, who teaches English Language Learners (ELL) at the school, is the sole Kansas recipient of the award for the 2025-26 school year and the state’s 74th Milken Educator since the program began in Kansas in 1992.

The announcement followed an elaborate reveal involving student volunteers who helped calculate the financial award, adding zeros one by one until reaching the final $25,000 figure, money that Oddo can use however she chooses.

“I’m just so grateful,” Oddo said after the announcement, visibly moved by the surprise. When asked about her plans for the prize money, she said with a laugh, “Well, I bought a car two years ago, so this might be a little helpful to pay off my car.”

*Backed by several past recipients of the award from around Kansas, Lexcee Oddo addressed the assembly, expressing her gratitude for her fellow teachers and the Turner Elementary administration.*

Teacher leader on the rise

In her seventh year at Turner Elementary, Oddo has built a reputation for excellence both in and out of the classroom. She spent six years teaching second grade before transitioning this year to her current role as an ELL teacher, a move that came after she interviewed for an instructional leadership position.

“I actually interviewed for an instructional role last year. I didn’t get the role, but Ms Hudson encouraged me to move into an interventionist role,” Oddo explained. “So I took that opportunity and it’s been such a blessing. I’ve learned so much just in the first semester.”

Principal Tara Hudson, who has led Turner Elementary for 10 years, saw tremendous potential in Oddo and wanted to provide her with broader experience.

“Lexi is ready, she’s just finished her master’s degree to be an administrator. She wants to be a principal and we just didn’t have an opening this year,” Hudson said. “So instead we moved her into ESL so that she could get more experience with more grade levels and just some more leadership opportunities, organization, logistical things.”

The move has proven successful. Oddo now works with students across all grade levels, using ongoing formative assessments to tailor instruction and provide real-time interventions. She also plans lessons for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) paraprofessionals and maintains a 100% attendance rate for parent-teacher conferences.

Beyond her classroom duties, Oddo serves on the school’s leadership team, supports school improvement initiatives, mentors new teachers, and co-leads district-level cohorts on curriculum implementation. She’s also one of two district trainers for LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), helping other educators master the science of reading.

*Turner Superintendent Jason Dandoy (left), Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson, and Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller listened to opening remarks at the assembly.*

Community effort

Watson, who has visited all 287 school districts in Kansas during his 11 years in office, praised both Oddo and the Turner Elementary community.

“She’s just an outstanding educator and been working so hard with kids and we’ve just seen those academic scores just really go up under her leadership,” Watson said. “She drives kids hard with such love and compassion and empathy. They love being with her and yet she’s achieving at such highest levels.”

Watson emphasized that while the award recognizes one teacher, it reflects the entire school community. “This is important because it represents the entire community of Turner Elementary. And so it speaks to the quality of the staff here, the quality of the students, and certainly the commitment of the community and parents.”

Turner Superintendent Jason Dandoy echoed that sentiment, noting the school’s remarkable achievements in STEM education and English language learner programs.

“The achievement level with ELL English as language learners that’s going on here — those assessment scores are unbelievable,” Dandoy told the assembly.

Hudson attributes the school’s success to finding the right people and creating a positive culture.

“I have been the principal for 10 years, and so I think I’ve just worked really hard to find the right people and put them in the right seats on the bus,” Hudson said. “I’m surrounded by amazing educators that care about this community and love to work here, and it just creates a culture that’s positive all the time. And people do what’s best for kids.”

The principal described her leadership style as supportive and accessible. “I’m always available, always reachable. I try to do lots of fun spirit days, prizes, anything I can, and just recognize the hard work that they’re doing.”

*Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller gave a presentation that kept students and faculty in suspense as they slowly learned the true purpose of the assembly.*

The power of recognition

Fuller reminded students during the assembly that teachers deserve more recognition for their vital work.

“Other than your family, we really think that teachers and your principal are some of the most important people in our lives because they help us prepare and get ready for life outside of school,” Fuller said. “But you know what? We don’t take that much time to say thank you to our teachers.”

The Milken Educator Awards, created by philanthropist Lowell Milken in 1987, aim to change that. The program has honored more than three thousand educators nationwide, investing over $76 million in individual financial prizes and more than $146 million in the national network overall.

Recipients cannot apply for the award and don’t know they’re being considered. Outstanding educators are identified while early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish.

In addition to the $25 thousand unrestricted cash award, Oddo will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June 2026, where she’ll attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum and network with other recipients and education leaders.

*Turner graduates Phil Lopez, left, and Daniel Soptic chatted before the assembly.*

Tight-knit community

Turner’s small-district atmosphere has been key to Oddo’s development as an educator.

“Turner is such a small community and especially in the education space. You know, we’re a very small district, so getting to be a part of such a small district has so many benefits,” Oddo said. “You really get to know everyone throughout all the schools and get to collaborate with everyone, which really enhances everyone’s learning.”

That tight-knit quality extends beyond the schools. Hudson noted that whenever the community needs something, people come together, aided by a strong social media presence that keeps everyone informed.

*Students and faculty alike applauded Lexcee Oddo as her name was announced and she descended from the bleachers.*

Moment to remember

Later, in a phone call to her family captured on video, Oddo shared the news with her mother.

“The award came with a financial prize. Do you want to guess how much?” Oddo asked. “$25,000.”

“You’re a liar,” her mother responded in disbelief.

“They just kept adding zeros,” Oddo laughed.

Watson, standing nearby, reassured Oddo’s mother: “Do you need a note from the school district? I’m Commissioner of Education. This is true. A big deal. Twenty-five thousand dollars.”

For Oddo, who completed her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Kansas State University in 2018 and her Master of Science in education administration from Emporia State University in 2023, the award represents both recognition for past achievements and support for future aspirations.

“As we know, we need more teachers, especially in Kansas and just all across our country,” Oddo said when asked about the importance of recognizing educators. “So to reward those who collaborate with their teams and their districts is just really valuable to the continuation of education.”

As she wrapped up the assembly, Principal Hudson reflected on the suspenseful build-up to the award.

“This has been the biggest secret I’ve ever kept in my life, but it was worth it and I’m so glad you were all here to help celebrate,” she told the students.

The 2025-26 Milken Educator Awards tour will honor 30 teachers nationwide, adding to a network of excellence that now includes Turner Elementary’s Lexcee Oddo, Kansas’s newest education all-star.