MAST ACADEMY TEACHER WINS $25,000 MILKEN NATIONAL EDUCATOR AWARD October 9, 2001 Mark Tohulka, a science teacher at MAST Academy, was awarded a $25,000 Milken National Educator Award this morning at a surprise ceremony held before hundreds of students, teachers, administrators and staff. Florida Education Commissioner Charlie Crist and Secretary of Education Jim Horne were special guests at the school, which is located at 3979 Rickenbacker Causeway. Tohulka, a National Board Certified science teacher, has been an educator for 16 years and has taught at MAST Academy since 1999. He holds a bachelor's degree from Lawrence University and a master's degree in biological research from Florida International University. He is the former director of Marine Resource Development Foundation's "Man in the Sea" program where he conducted classes on diving and submarine technology. Additionally, he has authored curriculum materials for NASA's Life Science program and for the University of Miami. Tohulka is a presenter on WLRN-TV's Dial-A-Teacher program and co-chaired a state science conference in Miami last October. Named a Master Teacher by the National Teacher Training Institute for the use of technology in the classroom, Tohulka won a Florida Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. He also was the recipient of the Radio Shack/Tandy National Teacher Award and was presented with a computer, which he donated to a student with serious health problems who lacked a computer at home. Dubbed the "Oscars of Teaching" by Teacher Magazine, the Milken National Educator Awards were created in 1985 to reward and retain teachers as well as attract the highest caliber professionals to our nation's schools. This year, 120 teachers across America will receive the awards. For more information, contact Alberto M. Carvalho, Public Information Officer, at 305-995-4638, or visit the Milken Family Foundation's website at www.mff.org. ### AMC075/JJS Back to Press Releases