In an assembly called for students and staff to hear from State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett about improving student achievement at the school, hundreds of students and teachers were treated to the surprise announcement that Liebl had won the award.

"Oh my goodness! It was a complete surprise. There are so many wonderful teachers here. When they said my name, I felt shock and disbelief," Liebl said.

The announcement was made by Richard Sandler, executive vice president of the Milken Family Foundation. The Milken Family Foundation created the awards in 1985 to recognize the efforts of some of the nation’s most outstanding teachers, principals and specialists in K-12 public education. Counting the two teachers honored this year, the program has honored 21 Oklahoma teachers since it began in the state in 2000.

Liebl is the third Putnam City teacher to win a Milken National Educator Award. Lisa Brown, a firth-grade teacher at Harvest Hills Elementary School, won last year. Paula Dyer, then a science teacher at Mayfield Middle School, won the award in October 2001. More Putnam City teachers have won Milken awards than teachers from any other district in the state.

Liebl is in her eighth year of teaching in Putnam City, all at Putnam City West. She is currently the teacher of the year at Putnam City West as well as the teacher of the year for the Putnam City district. Her tenure at Putnam City West has been a model of excellence in teaching, says Buster Meeks, Putnam City West principal.

"Dionne exemplifies everything we want excellent teachers to be both inside and outside the classroom. Her positive attitude and the way in which she cares for and engages her students is fantastic," Meeks says.

Dubbed "the Oscars of education," the Milken Family Foundation’s National Educator Award is the nation’s largest teacher recognition program, developed to reward, retain and attract the highest quality K-12 teachers to the profession. Each Milken Educator receives an award of $25,000 – which can be used any way they choose – and an all-expense-paid trip to the annual Milken National Education Conference in the summer.

Based on guidelines established by the Foundation, participating state departments of education appoint blue ribbon committees that identify candidates for evaluation and selection. Identification and selection procedures are confidential, and the program does not include a nomination or application procedure.

The criteria for the selection of outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and other education professionals as Milken Educators include all of the following:

• Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
• Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession;
• Strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership; and
• Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.