Virginia Fasulo was still shaking as she strode toward the center of the Lodi High School gymnasium. She had just received a prestigious national teaching award, the Milken Educator Award.
The award, hailed as the “Oscar of education,” came as a complete surprise to Fasulo, a science teacher in the Bergen County district. Unlimited He comes with a prize of $25,000.
She said this Friday morning, moments after a packed school assembly drew cheers and applause from students and staff clad in blue ocean blue.
“Today was completely unexpected,” said Fasullo, wearing an orange stethoscope around his neck.
Fasulo is the third New Jersey educator to receive the Milken Educator Award this season. She is the first recipient of the award from Lodi Public Schools, according to the release.
“Virginia Fasulo’s classroom is an exciting hub of discovery for future medical professionals at Lodi High School,” said Milken Educator Award Senior Vice President and 1994 recipient of the award to Fasulo. Jane Foley said.
“Our heartfelt congratulations to Virginia, who exemplifies the role of teacher, mentor, and cheerleader to her students and colleagues every day,” Foley added.
Fasulo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Albany in 2006, a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health in 2010, and a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health in 2015. I received my master’s degree in education from Professor Patterson.
She leads the high school biology and astrophysics clubs, the pre-med club, and the HOSA (Future Health Professionals) chapter. She first began teaching through the American Cancer Society, and then she moved into classroom teaching.
Officials said Mr. Fasullo was instrumental in creating the pre-med and agriculture curriculum. Her students maintain chicken habitats in the city, and Fasulo cares for them during the summer and vacations.
Her classroom is set up as a hospital room with mannequins and 3D software to diagnose them. She also has exercise equipment for her exercise science class.
“The MD/PhD program here at Lodi has been a special project for me over the past 10 years,” Fasulo said in his brief remarks. “I’m very proud of this program. I’m very proud of everything we’ve done here and everything we have to offer our students.”
Henri Xhukellari, a senior at Lodi High School, joined the pre-med club as a freshman and currently serves as the club’s student leader. He praised Fasulo’s dedication to students and teaching them how to approach medicine, including issues of integrity.
“Because no matter what happens, no matter what you need, she will always help you and guide you,” he said. “She has a lot of faith in her students.”
Shkerari said he would like to become a doctor in the future, possibly becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Mr. Fasulo is the third New Jersey educator to receive the Milken Award this year. Earlier this week, Riley Gartland and Taylor Trost were surprised by separate Congressional awards.
Gartland teaches math at Cinnaminson High School in Burlington County, and Trost teaches fourth grade at Grace Norton Rogers Elementary School in Hightstown, Mercer County.
The Milken Educator Award will recognize up to 75 recipients nationwide this academic year as part of the Milken Family Foundation’s 3,000th Educator Journey.
The award was created in 1987 by businessman and philanthropist Lowell Milken to recognize excellence in education. Each year, educators are reviewed without their knowledge by a committee appointed by each state’s Department of Education.
Teachers were unable to apply for this award and were surprised to hear the news of the award at a school assembly. The educator can use her $25,000 in any way she chooses. Winners will also receive mentorship and networking opportunities.
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Brianna Kudisch can be reached at: bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.