NM teacher wins Milken Educator Award

LAS CRUCES (AP) - A Las Cruces second-grade teacher is the winner of the 2010 New Mexico Milken National Educator Award.

State Education Secretary-designate Susanna Murphy says James Dickerson of Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School demonstrates dedication to teaching, with his students showing dramatic increases in academic achievement levels.

She says Dickerson invites students' families to school for positive reasons, rewards students for good character and is a role model for all teachers.

The award comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.

Dickerson has been with the Las Cruces Public School district for seven years.

He began teaching second grade at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary in 2006.