A Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn alumnus landed a huge honor last week.

Grant Hegstad, assistant principal at MOC-Floyd Valley High School, received the Milken Educator Award Feb. 15 during special ceremony in Orange City. Hegstad grew up in Sanborn and graduated from H-M-S High School in 2006.

At an all-school assembly filled with cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media, Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley explained that the Milken Family Foundation's stop in Orange City was part of a nationwide tour honoring excellence in K-12 education. Then, with Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow and MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District Superintendent Russ Adams joining in the celebration, Dr. Foley presented Hegstad with his surprise Milken Educator Award – and a $25,000 cash prize he can use however he chooses.

"Grant Hegstad is a natural-born leader, learner and educator," said Dr. Foley, who is also a 1994 Milken Educator from Indiana. "Providing all students with invaluable, hands-on opportunities to pursue their goals and dreams has been a game-changer. The local partnerships he has built with families, colleagues and community members will continue to elevate educational opportunities for his students."

Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," the awards honor up to 75 recipients across the country in 2023-24 as part of the Milken Family Foundation's Journey to the 3,000th Milken Educator. 2023-24 will reach $75 million in individual financial prizes spanning the length of the initiative and more than $144 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to "Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate" the K-12 profession and inspiring young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career.

"As the Department of Education continues to celebrate incredible teachers across the state, I am excited to invite the national Milken Educator Award back to Iowa," said Snow. "Together, we honor Grant Hegstad for his impactful leadership connecting the classroom to the workplace and preparing students for in-demand, high-wage and public good careers. Grant supports his fellow teachers in professional learning and builds strong partnerships with industry, growing work-based learning opportunities for students in MOC-Floyd Valley and across Iowa."

Hegstad is the first recipient in the MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District since 2003, when Superintendent Adams received his award as principal at MOC-Floyd Valley High School. Adams previously served at H-M-S. Hegstad is the only recipient from Iowa this year.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Grant serving and leading at MOC-Floyd Valley," said Adams. "His vision for teaching and learning and his commitment to helping students grow through authentic experiences is unparalleled. He is a true difference maker and an absolute blessing to everyone fortunate enough to know him."

Hegstad was completely unaware of his candidacy for the award. Recipients are sought out while early to mid-career for what they have achieved – and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the award.

• More About Grant Hegstad

Hegstad is a leader in creating a culture that is generating strong, ambitious students ready to succeed after graduation. A former special education teacher, Hegstad now directs the school's CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program in addition to his administrator role. Through a partnership with local business owners and community members, MOC-Floyd Valley students gain on-the-job training, real-world experiences and the opportunity to explore a variety of different career paths.

With Hegstad's guidance and commitment, the CAPS/ECE program has grown from a handful of students to some 50 students this academic year. CAPS students meet within the local STAPLES corporate office so that students can have direct exposure to the business environment. His hard work is paying off: Students who participated in the program with local businesses have turned those internships into full-time jobs post-graduation, and others have found employment as welders after completing their CAPS/ECE coursework. Students have expressed high praise for CAPS in presentations to the school board, noting the relevance of their career experiences in their plans for the future.

Hegstad's enthusiasm for the program led him to bring CAPS students to Des Moines to present at the governor's annual STEM Day. He has also provided guidance and leadership to assist a dozen area school districts who have joined the Siouxland CAPS network. On a constant mission to grow and improve, Hegstad regularly seeks out new business partners to help expand the program's offerings for students. Under his guidance, MOC-Floyd Valley is in the process of adding CAPS Medicine and CAPS Education programs to the lineup.

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MOC-Floyd Valley High School Assistant Principal Grant Hegstad (second from left) poses with his oversized Milken Educator Award check.

The legacy of Hegstad's work in the community is his commitment to see the best in every student and teacher at MOC-Floyd Valley High School – and to empower them to believe in themselves. He makes time in his busy days to mentor new teachers, participates in the school's professional learning community, and even tackled leadership of the MOC-Floyd Valley football program as coach.