When Denham Springs High School students and staff shuffled into the school gym Friday morning, they thought they were there to hear a speech from the state superintendent about the school’s strong academic performance.
They were. But it was a ruse.
The real purpose of the assembly became clear halfway through, when the room erupted in applause as English teacher Katie Guidry’s name was called and it was announced she would be awarded the prestigious Milken Educator Award with its $25,000 prize.
The award, funded by the California-based Milken Family Foundation, began 37 years ago is exclusively given to teachers. It comes with $25,000, no strings attached. Guidry is the first teacher in Livingston Parish to receive it.
Milken Educator Awards Vice President Jennifer Fuller teases the dollar amount awarded to the winning teacher with the help of some students at Denham Springs High School on Friday, November 13, 2026. Staff photos by Javier Gallegos
After speeches from the school principal and state superintendent, Jennifer Fuller of the Milken Foundation took the microphone and revealed that one of the teachers in the room would receive the award and its accompanying cash prize. Students held up cards with numbers, the amount of zeros continuing to grow until it reached $25,000.
“Do you want to know who it is?” Fuller asked, the student body responding with a resounding “yes!” as they started a drumroll and tried to contain their excitement.
Fuller opened a small envelope and read Guidry’s name aloud, barely audible over the applause that filled the room. Guidry made her way down from the balcony as staff members appeared from a corner of the gym with a giant check.
Teacher Renee Doiron wipes tears away while sat in the crowd after it was announced her colleague Katie Guidry won the Milken Educator Award at Denham Springs High School on Friday, November 13, 2026. Staff photos by Javier Gallegos
Guidry, a Livingston Parish native who has worked at DSHS since graduating college 12 years ago, was stunned.
“It felt like time stood still,” Guidry said. “I show up in my classroom every day, and I just want to do what’s best for the kids every day, and I could never imagine anything like this would happen to me.”
Cameras followed Guidry as she made her way to the center of the floor, clutching the envelope as cheers continued to reverberate through the room.
Behind her stood state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, local elected officials, and past Milken winners from Louisiana, all there to welcome Guidry into the elite club.
Afterward, Guidry called her husband, a teacher at Maurepas School.
“I have to tell you something,” Guidry began. “The assembly today that was supposed to be about the LEAP scores was not about the LEAP scores.
“I won the Milken Educator Award—that is a national award out of like 3 million teachers, and I won $25,000,” Guidry said, her voice shaking as tears rolled down her face.
“What? No way,” her husband replied. “As a teacher, I want to be you when I grow up.”
Guidry does not yet know what she will do with the money. She said she’ll probably take a vacation to Tennessee and go to Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood.
“When you think about, ‘I want my kid to have a good teacher,’ that’s the person you want your kid to have,” Principal Wesley Howard said. “She’s good with all the kids, not just the smart ones, not just the ones who need help the most. All the kids.”
Teacher Katie Guidry gives a high five while walking to receive the Milken Educator Award at Denham Springs High School on Friday, November 13, 2026. Staff photos by Javier Gallegos
Howard said he learned a couple of weeks ago that one of his teachers would receive the award.
Candidates are sourced through a confidential selection process. Educators do not know if they are being considered and cannot apply for the award.
Since its founding in 1987, Milken’s foundation has surprised educators far and wide with generous awards. The prize, and the dramatic way it is awarded, has become known as the “Oscars of Teaching.”
The foundation presents 30-40 awards annually to teachers across the country, each accompanied by a $25,000 prize.
Guidry is the second and final Louisiana educator to win the award for the 2026-2027 school year. A Ruston third-grade teacher received the award on Thursday.
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember,” Guidry said. “It’s been the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”
She said she loves to help her students both inside and outside the curriculum. “Seeing them go out and achieve their dreams and knowing that I got to be a tiny piece in that of helping them know that they can achieve that, that’s one of my favorite things.”
Guidry teaches a handful of classes at DSHS, including English and Language Arts, Bible as Literature and Educators Rising. Guidry helped launch the school’s Educators Rising program, which provides classes and mentorship for aspiring teachers. She founded and sponsors the Respect Everyone and Create Harmony (REACH) Club at DSHS, which fosters peer support between special and general education students. She also sponsors DSHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
