John Muir High School Social Studies teacher Manuel Rustin was honored with the National Milken Educator Award during assembly at the Pasadena school on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Above, Rustin, left, looks at the oversized check being held by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, center, and school principal Sheryl D. Orange, right. Lowell Milken, Chairman and Co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation presided over the ceremony. (Raul Roa/ Pasadena Sun)
by Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun
A history teacher at John Muir High School in Pasadena was presented Tuesday with a Milken Educator Award, one of the profession’s highest honors and bestowed on only 40 teachers in the nation each year.
Manuel Rustin, 32, received a standing ovation from hundreds of Muir students, faculty and school district administrators after the surprise announcement at a school assembly.
The honor comes with a $25,000 prize meant to encourage exceptional young teachers to stick with the profession, said businessman and Milken Family Foundation Chairman Lowell Milken, who presented Rustin with the award.
