BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Goshen High School agriscience teacher Christian Stanley received a national surprise Wednesday when representatives from the Milken Educator Awards announced he is Alabama’s newest Milken Award winner – an honor that comes with a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize.
“The moment I heard my name, I was just awestruck,” Stanley told Alabama Daily News after an award presentation at his school. “I really didn’t know what to think about how I was the one to be lucky enough to win an award like this.”
Stanley said he plans to use the prize money to pay for his newborn son to go to college in the future.
Stanley, who teaches seventh through 12th grade agriscience and directs the Pike County Agriscience Academy, is one of just 30 educators nationwide selected for the 2025-26 Milken Educator Award. He is the only Alabama recipient this year and the first-ever winner from Pike County Schools.
The award, often described as the “Oscars of Teaching,” recognizes early- to mid-career educators for what they have accomplished and the professional impact they are expected to make in the years ahead. There is no formal nomination process and teachers do not know they are being considered for the award.
“Christian Stanley excels as an educator, mentor, colleague, and community leader,” Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop, who presented the award during a surprise assembly, said in a press release. “Students are lucky to have such rich, hands-on experiences that allow them to make meaningful contributions to the global economy and build the foundation for a bright future.”
State Superintendent Eric Mackey called Stanley’s recognition a win for the entire state.
“Mr. Stanley represents everything we hope for in Alabama classrooms,” Mackey said. “He has a heart for students, provides excellent instruction, and has a deep commitment to his school and community.”
Stanley said this type of recognition is important.
“I think that it’s important to be able to recognize and award excellent educators, because educators, ultimately, are the people who create the next generation of excellent leaders within this country,” he said. “The greatest thing that I hear is whenever a student says to me that they want to be a teacher like me.”
At Goshen High School, Stanley leads a program built around hands-on learning. Students raise cattle and goats, manage greenhouses, restore tractors and operate a freight farm hydroponic system that produces hundreds of heads of lettuce weekly for school lunchrooms.
Through a partnership with Enterprise State Community College, students can earn college credit and even graduate with a short-term certificate or associate’s degree in agriscience. The Pike County Agriscience Academy is the only Alabama high school agricultural program offering college credit.
Stanley also advises the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter, which has produced winning teams and student officers at the district and state levels. His classes include animal and dairy science, horticulture, floral design, landscape design and agriscience explorations, all emphasizing STEM, CTE and career development.
Beyond his classroom duties, Stanley serves on Goshen’s leadership team, mentors new teachers and presents at state and national education conferences. He holds several statewide roles in agricultural education and serves on the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association board of directors. He also maintains partnerships with local farmers, drives students on field-based learning trips and announces Friday night football games.
Stanley joins a list of 43 educators awarded the Milken since 1998, when Alabama joined the program.
He will join other Milken Award recipients in Washington, D.C., next June for the program’s national forum.
(Courtesy Milken Family Foundation)
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