Shane Henderson was driving a school bus several years ago. Now, he’s driving up student scores at Pittsboro Elementary School.

The fourth-grade teacher was surprised Wednesday with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award, given to the best teachers in the United States.

Henderson thought he was attending a regular school assembly in the gymnasium. Instead, Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop and North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green were there to surprise him before a packed gym of cheering students, educators, dignitaries and media.

“Shane Henderson’s work models best practices in instructional leadership, peer mentoring and professional collaboration, making him a standout educator and model for the profession,” said Bishop, a 2001 Milken winner.

The Pittsboro native drove a school bus while earning a B.A. degree from Southern New Hampshire University. He rose from driver to instructional assistant to teacher. He recently led his fourth grade class to a 16-point increase in reading proficiency and an overall passing rate of 75% on end-of-year assessments.

“For once, I am at a loss for words,” said Henderson who continues to fill in as a bus driver when necessary. “I started from the bottom; now I’m a teacher and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

Henderson’s attributes don’t stop in the classroom. He organizes a Breakfast for Brainiacs for students, serves on the School Improvement Team, meets one-on-one with parents to mark their children’s progress, trains peers to support younger students in the classroom and so much more.

“Shane Henderson’s deep passion and commitment to student success exemplify why he makes a great Milken Educator Award recipient,” Green said. “He keeps students at the heart of his work, creating inclusive learning environments to support all students along their educational journey.”

Outstanding educators like Henderson are not aware of their candidacy for the award. Recipients are sought out while early to mid-career for what they have achieved, and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Milken Award.

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