Jaime Garcia was thinking of one of his colleagues when his name was called at a schoolwide assembly Wednesday to be presented with a prestigious award.

The assistant principal and dean of academics at LISA Academy North Middle-High School didn’t know that moments later he would be joining a national network of educators recognized for their excellence and commitment to teaching.

Garcia had just won the Milken Educator Award at a surprise announcement at the school’s gymnasium. He will be Arkansas’ sole recipient for the 2025-26 school year and the state’s 84th since joining the program in 1991.

“It’s a great feeling to be recognized by the state, but more importantly by the students,” Garcia said after the announcement.

The award, also known as the “Oscar of Teaching,” comes with a $25,000 unrestricted check and is meant to recognize teachers and encourage others to enter the profession. It is given each year by the Milken Family Foundation, a California-based private organization that has been running the program since its inception in 1987. This year’s award includes an all-expenses-paid trip to the District of Columbia, where Garcia and others will partake in a forum scheduled for June of next year.

“We’ve been talking about this visit for some number of weeks, and we’ve heard tremendous things about this school,” said Joshua Barnett, chief executive officer of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, who presented the award on behalf of the Milken foundation. Barnett was joined Wednesday by Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, members of the state’s Board of Education and other state officials. On the other side of the gymnasium, roughly 500 unsuspecting middle and high school students filled the bleachers.

Barnett said educators aren’t being celebrated enough, especially when compared with other industries. Sports, entertainment and science all have their own special awards, he said.

“But isn’t it interesting that the profession that prepares for all of the other professions has not had a similar award recognition?” Barnett asked. “Excellence in education should be celebrated. And I’m excited to say one of the best educators in the entire nation is right here in your school.”

Garcia was born in Mexico and moved to the United States when he was 10 years old. In 2015, he interviewed for a teaching position at LISA Academy, and within less than a week was instructing students.

At his current role, Garcia oversees curriculum alignment, instructional coaching, state assessment coordination and data analysis of student performance. During his tenure at the open-enrollment charter school, he implemented a math mentorship program and served on several committees. He holds a bachelor’s degree in math from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a master’s degree in applied math from the University of Central Arkansas.