On what seemed like an ordinary day in October 2023, Jacob Ball received one of the most exciting surprises of his life.
Ball, a 6-12th grade agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at the Carter G. Woodson Academy in Lexington, Ky., was presented with a Milken Educator Award — known as the “Oscar of Teaching” — during a schoolwide assembly.
This prestigious award, which includes a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize, was created by Lowell Milken in 1987 and honors early- to mid-career education professionals who embody excellence as they help shape the future of education in the U.S.
Since Milken Educator Award recipients can’t be formally nominated or apply for the award, they’re typically caught off guard when hearing the news. Ball says that’s exactly how he felt when he realized everyone was gathered to celebrate his achievement.
“I was told to dress to impress because our school was hosting an assembly and we’d have guests attending from the Kentucky Department of Education, but I had no idea what was coming,” says Ball, who was instrumental in developing and launching the Carter G. Woodson FFA Chapter at the all-boys college preparatory academy in 2019. “When I heard my name, I was completely shocked and in total disbelief. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.”
However, the win came as no surprise to Ball’s students and colleagues, who have seen him build the FFA program and create a robust chapter with 185 members.
Growing Leaders
Additionally, to better serve his student population, Ball combined the Carter G. Woodson FFA with Junior Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), an organization that encourages students to pursue agriculture, natural resources and environmental sciences degrees in college.
“It’s important for students of color to not only see themselves in agriculture, but to understand they can thrive and succeed in this industry,” Ball says. “This is especially important at Carter G. Woodson Academy, where education is shared through the lens of African-American history and culture, and the majority of our student live in urban settings.”
Reflecting on his career and rewarding moments as an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor, Ball points to his students’ many outstanding accomplishments. To date, six of his chapter members have earned full-ride college scholarships, and many of his former students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in agriculture-related fields.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to help young people grow as leaders and carve out paths they can be proud of,” Ball says. “I feel lucky to be part of each of my students’ journeys.”
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