Maplewood Middle School Band quickly changed its tune when Milken Educator Awards Founder Lowell Milken announced its leader as the recipient of the prestigious national Award and $25,000 cash prize.

The band and almost everyone else in the gym, with the exception the Milken Family Foundation team, thought they were there to hear a presentation by State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley. Not even Cook knew the real reason for the assembly Thursday morning.

Brumley did take the opportunity to congratulate Maplewood Middle for exceptional progress in basic fundamental skills, earning the state’s Top Gains status.

Then he introduced the man behind the Milken Educator Award. Lowell Milken is a product of public education who became a successful entrepreneur in his 30s after graduating from college with top honors.

“Some people might choose to do things like buy a professional football team with their wealth,” Brumley said. “He decided to use his wealth and use his time to improve education and create opportunities for young people across America.”

Milken believes that teachers have the most important job in the country. He created the Milken initiative 37 years ago to communicate that in a very public way. Today, the award is hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching.”

“Now, in our country, we do so many things well, but one thing we don’t do well enough,” Milken said, “and that is to celebrate, honor and recognize the important work that our teachers do.”

He said the spotlight on teachers stands in stark contrast to the attention that athletes and celebrities receive – and even those people and others who are outstanding in their field have this in common: They were prepared for success by teachers.

A real showman with a genuine heart for educators, Milken teased the crowd for the big reveal, and when he said Cook’s name, the students went wild.

Since Cook has come to Maplewood, the number of students participating in band has tripled. However, he holds students to high expectations and promotes accountability. He’s creative in the classroom, too. Incoming sixth graders partake in instrument “try-ons” with Cook, where they are matched with their future band instrument similar to how wizards at Hogwarts are paired with their wands, according to information submitted to Milken about Cook.

“Kyle Cook nurtures his students with the multitude of gifts music brings to the mind and soul: instrumental talent, expression, communication, confidence, and a natural connection to core academics,” Milken said.. “Kyle deserves high praise for developing strong performers, lifelong learners, and well-rounded leaders whose talents will serve them well as they advance in learning and life.”

Cook said his students learn music in his classroom, but he is even more interested in guiding them to become good humans, good citizens. The hard work and practice that they put in to be in the band can be a catalyst for that, he said.

The Katy, Texas native lives in Sulphur now. He graduated from McNeese State University where he earned his Bachelor of Music in 2016. He has been at Maplewood Middle ever since.

He knew he wanted to teach, but declaring a major took time, he said. Would he choose math? Science maybe. Then he thought about the teacher who had the biggest impact on his life. It was Mr. Maher, his band teacher. That’s why he majored in music education with a concentration in instrumental education.

Cook can use the money for anything he chooses, and will travel, expenses paid, to Los Angeles in April to meet other Milken Award recipients. Louisiana Milken Award recipients, school officials and government officials were at the ceremony Thursday  to congratulate Cook in person.

When Maplewood Middle School principal Saberly O’Quain dismissed the assembly, she shared more good news about Cook. He will be going to New Orleans in January to receive the award for State Jazz Educator of the Year.

          Outstanding educators like Cook are not aware of their candidacy for the Award. There is no application process. Recipients are sought out while early- to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award. The Maplewood Middle School band director will join a national network of 3,000 teachers shaping the future of education.