Thjs is part of a series of
2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.
FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Jay Weisman, a geometry and statistics teacher at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, LA. Jay will arrive in Fort Scott on June 15th 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.
Jay Weisman, a 2021 Louisiana Milken Educator, makes students eager to learn, bringing creativity and enthusiasm to his math and social studies classes at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans. Whether assembling proofs in geometry or hosting a “King Cake Caucus” in AP Government, his engaging, collaborative classroom fosters student participation and reflection. His approach has led to impressive results, with his geometry students consistently achieving over 95% mastery, and 83% of his AP Government students passing the AP exam.
Beyond the classroom, Weisman is deeply involved in his school community, serving as math department chair and regularly organizing events like an incoming student welcome week and announcing at events like football games and graduation. He has coordinated ACT prep programs, successfully pushed for the creation of a testing coordinator position, and has supported his colleagues as a member of the inaugural Instruction Cohort.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Jay’s creative and enthusiastic approach to teaching geometry and statistics while incorporating project-based learning will bring a new dimension to our 2025 Fellowship. We look forward to learning from Jay about little-known heroes in the field of mathematics who have had a significant impact on our lives today.”
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.