MADON CONGRATULATES HARLAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER ON NATIONAL EDUCATOR AWARD
“We've got good people doing good things for our kids all across these mountains." - Sen. Scott Madon
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 29, 2026) — Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, released the following statement congratulating Harlan High School English teacher Tyler Saylor, who received the prestigious Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 prize Wednesday. Saylor is the first educator from Harlan Independent Schools to receive the national honor, often called the "Oscars of Teaching."
“I want to take a minute to brag on one of our own. Mr. Saylor has earned one of the highest honors a teacher can receive. I can't tell you how good it is to see somebody from right here in the mountains recognized on a national stage.
“What impressed me most was what he said after receiving the award. Instead of making it about himself, he talked about how blessed he is to work alongside the faculty and staff at Harlan High and said they were just as deserving of the recognition. That tells you a lot about the kind of man he is.
“We've got good people doing good things for our kids all across these mountains. A good teacher can make a difference in a young person's life that lasts forever, and it's good to see that work recognized.
“Congratulations, Mr. Saylor. You've made Harlan County proud, and I'm proud of you, too.”
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BACKGROUND
According to the Harlan Enterprise, Saylor teaches 11th- and 12th-grade English at Harlan High School. He received the award during a surprise school assembly attended by Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher and representatives of the Milken Family Foundation. Saylor is the first educator from Harlan Independent Schools to receive the honor and the 65th Kentucky recipient since 1993.
Established in 1987, the Milken Educator Awards recognize outstanding K-12 educators for their accomplishments and future potential. Teachers cannot apply or be nominated. Recipients receive an unrestricted $25,000 prize and join a national network of more than 3,000 educators. The program is celebrating its 40th anniversary during the 2026-27 school year.
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Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, represents the 29th Senate District, which includes Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, and Letcher Counties. He co-chairs the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Protection. He also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Appropriations and Revenue; Economic Development and Workforce Investment; Local Government; Natural Resources and Energy; State Government; and Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology. He also serves on the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Madon, please visit:
https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate129.jpg