Milken Family Foundation Chairman Lowell Milken leads a panel discussion on "Education Policy Priorities for the Next President."

At a time when the nation's leadership for the next four years is being debated and decided, the Milken Family Foundation convened a national conference to celebrate and empower a different kind of leader: the American educator.

Breaking the stereotype of teachers as classroom-bound instructors, the Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference—which took place in Los Angeles on March 29-30, 2008—provided ample evidence of the meaningful change that can come about when effective teachers and principals take on leadership roles and responsibilities.

Held for the first time in conjunction with the 8th Annual National Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)™ Conference, the Milken National Education Conference brought together hundreds of the nation's most effective educators with leading authorities from academia, government and business, to address the critical need to develop a far greater supply of high-quality teachers, principals and specialists in order to raise achievement for all students.

Stuart Albright (NC '07), Jill Ryerson (GA '07), Justin Singleton (TX '07) and Cheronda Cooper (LA '07) celebrate after receiving their Milken Educator Awards.

With the theme of "Educators as Leaders," the Conference presented several wide-ranging panel discussions on key educational issues featuring national, state and urban leaders and policymakers as well as distinguished educators and education researchers.

The Conference culminated in a Milken Educator Awards Gala, during which the 75 recipients of the 2007 Milken Educator Award received their $25,000 cash prizes onstage inside the spacious California Ballroom at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.