This month’s Rising Tide Educator Award goes to Mrs. Karen McMillan of Sand Point School. Karen exemplifies the spirit of “a rising tide lifts all boats” through her professionalism, creativity, and commitment to student success. She comes to school each day prepared, positive, and fully engaged in both teaching and continuous improvement. In addition to her middle and high school instruction, Karen works directly with elementary students, using her expertise as a certified reading specialist to provide targeted interventions that strengthen early literacy and help close learning gaps.
Karen has also expanded student opportunities by developing new elective courses, including the highly popular Sewing and Cooking Skills class, which combines hands-on learning with real-world application. Beyond her classroom, she serves as a mentor teacher, senior class advisor, and previously accompanied students to Washington, D.C. for the Close Up program—broadening their understanding of government and civic engagement. Her mentorship of a new teacher this year reflects her belief that when one educator grows, the entire school benefits. Karen’s leadership, instructional innovation, and collaborative spirit embody the core values of the Rising Tide Award—lifting colleagues, students, and our district as a whole.