This is part of a series of
2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Brian Skinner, a high school special education educator and IEP trainer for the Harvey County Special Education Cooperative in Newton, KS. Brian will arrive in Fort Scott on June 22nd for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.
The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Brian Skinner, a special education teacher from Newton, Ks, was recognized in 2023 as Kansas Teacher of the Year. He is also a 2024 NEA Foundation Teaching Excellence recipient and an NEA Board Member. He regularly spends his time advocating for special education and the public education profession.
Within his school, some of Skinner’s additional roles have included serving as the Project SEARCH case manager, department chair, scholars’ bowl coach, and co-teaching trainer. Skinner says, “Working with students across such a wide spectrum helps him to understand all students better and have a larger impact in helping to build a positive school culture.”
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Brian is a leader among his peers, a significant catalyst in expanding co-teaching programs that involve all students across a broad spectrum. His insight will provide a valuable tool for our 2025 Fellows in seeking to include students of all abilities in the research and development of unsung heroes’ projects.”
While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.