PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A Pittsburgh-area teacher was presented with one of the top educator awards Tuesday morning.

The award and $25,000 cash prize was all part of a big surprise this morning.

The unique thing about the Milken Award is you can’t apply and you can’t be nominated. The Milken Foundation searches the country for the best teachers and one of them is at Pittsburgh Brashear.

The look on physics teacher Stephen Scoville’s face was priceless as he was surprised with the Milken Award for Teaching Excellence. Along with the award, he received $25,000 to spend however he wants.

“This is obviously very nice. But, the thing that feeds any teacher is the students and all they give back to any teacher,” Scoville said.

All the students at Brashear High School packed the gym for a special assembly.

Only a select few knew that Scoville, a teacher with Pittsburgh Public Schools for nearly a decade, would be honored at the assembly.

When the announcement was made, the whole gym erupted in cheers.

Some of his students couldn’t help but praise a teacher that has made a difference in their lives.

“He interacts with the students. He has fun with it. And that to me, is what really draws a student in and makes you want to learn,” Skyler Nichols said.

The award recognizes teachers who are still early in their careers. Candidates are recommended for outstanding work in the classroom. Hopefully, it proves as an incentive for the teacher and school to strive for even greater things.

“I’m accepting this kind of like as prepayment for making myself a better teacher,” Scoville said.

Out of the 40 recipients of the award this year, Scoville was the only teacher to receive the award in Pennsylvania.

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