For the second consecutive year, a Mercer County teacher has received one of the nation’s most prestigious education awards.
Katherine Delvaux, a first-grade English as a second language teacher at Carroll Robbins Elementary School in Trenton, was surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award during a schoolwide assembly on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Delvaux’s selection comes just over a year after Jeanette Capritti, a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at Lawrence Middle School, received the same honor on Oct. 15, 2025.
The back-to-back awards put Mercer County educators in the national spotlight for their innovative approaches to teaching reading and writing.
Delvaux is the only New Jersey educator selected for the 2026-27 Milken Educator Awards and the 40th recipient from the state since New Jersey joined the program in 2002. Capritti was the state’s 39th recipient.
The announcement came during a schoolwide assembly that took an unexpected turn when representatives of the Milken Family Foundation revealed the reason for their visit.
Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley and New Jersey Commissioner of Education Lily Laux presented the award to Delvaux before a gymnasium filled with cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and members of the media.
Delvaux learned that she would receive an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize and become part of a national network of educators recognized for their accomplishments and leadership potential.
The award, often described as the “Oscars of Teaching,” recognizes early- to mid-career educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and the potential to make significant contributions to education.
“Katherine Delvaux is an extraordinary educator,” said Foley, who received a Milken Educator Award in Indiana in 1994. “Her commitment to helping every student grow, innovative approach to classroom technology and dedication to creating a welcoming, supportive school community make a positive impact on students and colleagues alike. We are proud to welcome her into the national Milken Educator Network!”
Delvaux’s teaching career has taken her from Alaska to Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey. She previously taught second and third grades before joining the first-grade team at Carroll Robbins, where she works with multilingual learners in a co-teaching classroom.
Her work focuses on helping young students strengthen their English-language abilities while building the confidence they need to participate in classroom activities and succeed academically.
Working alongside the school’s Spanish and English dual-language immersion teachers, Delvaux develops lessons designed to improve reading, writing and overall language proficiency.
She uses small-group instruction tailored to students’ individual comprehension levels, allowing children who are learning at different rates to receive the attention and support they need.
Delvaux also encourages students to take ownership of their education by setting learning goals, monitoring their progress and recognizing their accomplishments.
Her approach combines data-driven instruction with creative activities intended to make learning accessible and enjoyable for young children.
Students create vocabulary-based “I Spy” books, record retellings of their favorite stories and write digital postcards to students in London and Norway.
The projects give students opportunities to practice reading, writing and speaking English while exploring subjects beyond the classroom.
Laux praised Delvaux’s ability to combine individualized instruction with a welcoming classroom environment.
“Katherine Delvaux exemplifies the dedication, innovation, and compassion that define New Jersey’s educators,” Laux said. “Through her commitment to multilingual learners, she creates engaging and meaningful learning experiences that help her students develop the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging they need to succeed.”
Laux also pointed to Delvaux’s use of student achievement data to guide instruction.
“She takes a data-driven approach to tracking growth and inspires students to build confidence, take ownership of their learning, and achieve their full potential,” Laux said.
Beyond her classroom, Delvaux has become a leader in incorporating technology into instruction at Carroll Robbins.
As a member of the Apple Vanguard Team, she receives training in Apple’s educational platforms and helps other teachers incorporate the technology into their lessons.
She has led professional development sessions for colleagues, promoted the use of iPads throughout the school and presented nationally in 2026 as part of Apple’s Education Stories of Success program.
Delvaux also serves on the school’s leadership team and Leader in Me Lighthouse team, where she works with third-grade student ambassadors who produce morning announcements.
Her commitment to students extends beyond academics.
Delvaux works to create a welcoming environment for children and families, particularly those whose first language is not English.
She has worked to improve her Spanish-language skills and participated in a summer teaching exchange program in Costa Rica focused on Spanish-language immersion.
As a member of the school’s intervention and referral services team, Delvaux helps identify students who need additional support, develops intervention plans and maintains communication with families.
She also serves on the school’s climate and culture team, helped create a school mural, leads Student of the Month recognitions and promotes attendance celebrations.
Delvaux earned a bachelor’s degree in theater performance from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2009 and a master’s degree in elementary education from Boston University in 2014.
The recognition is particularly notable because it follows a similar celebration just a few miles away in Lawrence Township a year earlier.
On Oct. 15, 2025, Capritti arrived at what she thought was a routine assembly at Lawrence Middle School. The district had been told that state education officials were visiting to discuss responsible technology use.
Instead, Foley and then-New Jersey Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer announced that Capritti had been chosen for the Milken Educator Award, making her the first teacher in Lawrence Township Public Schools history to receive the honor.
Capritti later described the surprise of hearing her name announced.
“I’m looking around and I’m so excited, because I have wonderful colleagues,” she said at the time. “I’m thinking, who can it be? And then they say my name.”
The reaction from students was equally enthusiastic.
Maya Tyberg, a former student who was attending Lawrence High School at the time, said Capritti deserved the recognition.
“When I saw Miss Capri win, I was so happy,” Tyberg said. “She deserves it completely.”
Another former student, Sunny Love, described Capritti as a teacher whose enthusiasm made a difference in the classroom.
“She’s super nice, super fun and bubbly,” Love said. “Every day she’d make the class a really nice learning environment.”
Capritti was recognized for her creative approach to teaching English language arts, including immersive science fiction lessons, student-directed writing activities and an emphasis on helping students develop their own voices as writers.
Her classroom activities include science fiction book tastings, complete with music and lighting, and a rotating series of writing prompts that allow students to experiment with argumentative, informative, narrative, reflective and other forms of writing.
She also helped develop the district’s writing curriculum and has provided professional development for fellow teachers.
Capritti, who joined Lawrence Middle School in 2019, earned both her bachelor’s degree in English secondary education and master’s degree in literacy from The College of New Jersey.
Although Delvaux and Capritti teach different grade levels and student populations, both have been recognized for finding innovative ways to engage students in reading and writing.
Both also have taken leadership roles beyond their classrooms, helping colleagues improve instruction and contributing to their schools’ educational programs.
Their awards illustrate the different ways educators can influence students, whether helping first-graders learn English or encouraging middle school students to become stronger, more confident writers.
The Milken Educator Awards are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Established by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987, the program recognizes teachers, principals and other educators early to midway through their careers, honoring both their accomplishments and their potential to influence education.
The foundation will recognize up to 30 educators nationwide during its 2026-27 anniversary tour.
Since the program began, more than 3,000 educators have received awards, with more than $76 million distributed in individual cash prizes. The foundation has invested more than $147 million in the Milken Educator Awards national network.
Unlike many other education honors, teachers cannot apply for or be nominated for the Milken Educator Award. Recipients are selected through a confidential process and typically learn of the recognition during surprise assemblies at their schools.
The award is not intended as a lifetime achievement honor. Instead, the foundation seeks educators who have already demonstrated excellence and who have the potential to make even greater contributions to their schools and the profession.
The $25,000 award comes with no restrictions on how the money may be used. Previous recipients have used their awards for continuing education, school projects, scholarships and personal or family needs.
Recipients also become part of the Milken Educator Network, which provides mentoring, professional development and opportunities to collaborate with educators across the country.
One of those opportunities is the Milken Friends Forever program, which pairs new recipients with veteran Milken educators who can offer guidance as they pursue leadership opportunities.
Delvaux will attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum in Washington, D.C., June 4-6, 2027, where she will join other recipients and veteran educators to discuss ways to strengthen teaching and educational leadership.
For Delvaux, the award recognizes the work she is doing with some of Trenton’s youngest students, helping them develop the language skills and confidence they will carry into the years ahead.
And for Mercer County, it marks the second consecutive year that one of its teachers has earned national recognition for making a difference in the classroom.
