Cortez man wins $25,000 award for educators

Cortez man wins $25,000 award for educators

October 16, 2001

A HUGE CHECK for $25,000 brings a grin to the face of Dean Cunningham (third from left) Friday as he receives a 2001 Milken Educator Award at Central Consolidated School District in Shiprock. With him are, from left, his wife, Beverly Cunningham, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael J. Davis, and District Superintendent Linda Besett.

By Tom Vaughan
Mancos Times Editor

Larry Dean Cunningham was, as he later admitted, "cussing because the superintendent scheduled a meeting on the Friday afternoon before elk-hunting season begins."

But his curses soon changed to an astonished smile as he left the meeting $25,000 richer, the recipient of a National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation.

Cunningham, a Cortez resident, is principal at Newcomb Middle and High School in Newcomb, N.M., 35 miles south of Shiprock on the Navajo Reservation. The Newcomb schools are part of Central Consolidated School District, based in Shiprock.

Michael J. Davis, New Mexico superintendent of public instruction, traveled to Shiprock Friday to make the presentation to Cunningham. In his remarks, Davis said schools in New Mexico are emphasizing academic achievement, attendance, school safety and equitable access and opportunity.

Cunningham received the award, according to Davis, because of his success in all of those areas since he first came to Newcomb in 1995. Of the freshmen who entered Newcomb High five years ago, 95 percent graduated last year. Forty-nine percent of last year’s graduating class were accepted to college, compared with just 5 percent only five years earlier.

No fights have occurred on the school’s campus since March 2000 and the school has received and installed state-of-the-art security equipment.

Cunningham is also credited with initiating alternative programming at Newcomb for students who do not do well in traditional classrooms. There are 71 students currently enrolled in the alternative program and the number is expected to double next year.

Dr. Linda Basett, district superintendent, said, "Students love coming to (Newcomb) school. They are motivated, as evidenced by test scores." She also noted that Cunningham is always outside greeting the students when the buses arrive in the morning.

Visibly surprised and moved by the announcement of his award, Cunningham credited his co-workers at Newcomb for the achievements they have made together. "We have a happy staff out there," he said; "We laugh all the time."

The Milken awards are presented annually, with one to three persons receiving them in each state. According to the Associated Press,Tom Boysen, senior vice president of education at the foundation, said 120 of the nation’s 3 million teachers received the award this year.

Cunningham graduated from Mancos High School in 1968 and from Fort Lewis College in 1972. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.

Named New Mexico Principal of the Year for 2001, Cunningham is one of 10 national finalists in that competition, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He is president-elect of the New Mexico Association of Secondary School Principals.

Dean’s wife, Beverly, is the human-resources officer at Mesa Verde National Park. She attended elementary school in Mancos and her parents, Kenneth and Mary Elizabeth Hopperton, lived in Mancos in their retirement years.

In addition to the $25,000 unrestricted cash award, Cunningham will travel to Los Angeles, all expenses paid, in June 2002 to participate in the annual conference of National Education Award winners.