Miliner Named Top Teacher in Georgia

GSW alumna selected as the 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year

While education itself is important, the educators that show dedication to their work are what really make learning possible.

Each year since 1971, Georgia recognizes a single teacher from the entire state that shows a devotion to and excellence in teaching, and this year a GSW alumna received that honor. Amanda Miliner was named Georgia’s 2015 Teacher of the Year on May 16, 2014. She was both honored and happy to be recognized with the award.

“I was humbled by the recognition and excited about the opportunity to represent the wonderful teachers we have in Georgia,” Miliner said.

Even Miliner’s degrees show her dedication to education. She received both her Master of Education (2011) in curriculum and instruction and her Specialist in Education (2012) in leading and learning from GSW.

Miliner currently teaches fourth grade at Miller Elementary in Warner Robins, Ga. She was previously selected as Teacher of the Year for both Miller Elementary and Houston County Schools.

Miliner with state superintendent, Dr. John Barge

While mentoring with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization during her college years, Miliner felt drawn to the teaching profession and decided to change her major from psychology to education.

“Each week I visited my ‘little sister’ at her school, and we would eat lunch together, read in the library, or interact in her classroom,” said Miliner. “I especially enjoyed when we would hang out in her classroom, because her teacher was exceptional. I found myself engaged in the lessons, wanting to participate. The environment was welcoming and learning was constantly taking place. I started to think that perhaps I would enjoy teaching.”

During her time as an undergraduate at Valdosta State University, Miliner also competed in pageants to finance her education. In 2006, she was named Miss Georgia. She then went on to be a part of the Miss America pageant, where she won second runner up and became a community service award finalist for her work as a national spokesperson for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

After spending a year as Miss Georgia, Miliner worked with the Georgia Association of Educators. She later returned to the classroom because of her love for teaching and her desire to have a positive impact upon her students.

Miliner has taught pre-K, fourth, and fifth grade, and she has educational endorsements in science and in teaching both gifted education and English language learners.

In her classroom at Miller Elementary, Miliner also served for a year as a host teacher for an Early Intervention Program (EIP). She worked with fifth grade students that had failed either the state reading or math standardized tests. Her entire class posted a 100 percent pass rate in math and reading on the state assessment that year.

“Since many of these students had failed the test several times before, my challenge was first getting these students to see themselves as achievers, not failures,” said Miliner. “Many of them significantly improved their performance and exceeded state standards. This same group of students also improved their writing scores by 20 percent. My students see that I strive for the best, and so do they!”

Miliner began her duties as Georgia’s Teacher of the Year on July 1, 2014, after the announcement in May. As Teacher of the Year, Miliner is an advocate for public education in Georgia. She travels the state as a voice and representative for educators.

“I hope to continue the legacy of the previous Georgia Teachers of the Year by being an advocate for teachers and helping to strengthen the profession as a whole,” she said.

Miliner is now married to her high school sweetheart, Kellen, and they have two children, Jordan and Avery. She will compete for the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, which will be announced in April 2015 and honored in a ceremony at the White House.