A third-grade math and science teacher at Columbus City Schools' Weinland Park Elementary School left work Tuesday $25,000 richer after winning a national education award.

Tiffany Tynes Curry, 38, said she was stunned to learn during a surprise announcement in front of hundreds of elementary students that she had won a Milken Educator Award, after having been selected from among candidates provided to the Milken Family Foundation by the Ohio Department of Education. More than 2,600 early or mid-career teachers, principals and specialists have received the award since 1987 "for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish," the foundation says.

"I was truly surprised," said Tynes Curry, who is the first Columbus City Schools teacher to win the award since 2002.

At first, Tynes Curry stood against the wall and listened to speakers in what she thought was an assembly to recognize reading accomplishments at Weinland Park. Then, Jane Foley, senior vice president with the foundation, announced she was one of 35 educators nationally to receive the award, and the only one in Ohio.

Tynes Curry said there is no secret method to her success.

"I think the main thing is high expectations for all my students," she said. "So regardless of your circumstance, high expectations.

"My students know that what I mean is what I say, meaning I will support you, I will do anything possible to help you achieve and reach your goal."

Tynes Curry attended Columbus City Schools, and is a graduate of Mifflin High School. She told the kids that math is key to their future.

"I knew after I graduated and went on to college that I would come back to teach in Columbus City Schools," she said. "We have a negative stigma that's placed on a lot of urban students, and so I wanted to come back and show our students that we are not stuck where people and society says we are, that we have the potential to excel and do excellence as well."

She said she will use the cash to help pay the private-school tuition for her kindergarten daughter, who attends Columbus School for Girls.

District Superintendent Dan Good and State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria said the Milken Educator Award is a great honor.

"It's not like you apply; it's like they search the country for outstanding teachers," DeMaria said.

"Truly it is the Academy Award - the Oscar - of teaching," Good said. "It puts the spotlight on the star of the state, which is Columbus City Schools."

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