Elizabeth Metts Named
2026 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Elizabeth Metts, a 9th-grade history teacher at Excel Academy Charter High School in East Boston, MA. Elizabeth will arrive in Fort Scott on June 28th 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.
Elizabeth, a National Board Certified history teacher originally from Texas, was recognized this past February as a Massachusetts Milken Educator. History is a popular subject at Excel Academy Charter High School, as Elizabeth empowers her students to succeed and excel through a flipped, self-paced ancient world history classroom rooted in hands-on learning. Students engage in gallery walks, debates, individualized student work, and research projects, with frequent feedback and learning pods that promote ownership of their progress. Since her arrival, student participation in AP World History has doubled—developing a vibrant group of learners who not only immerse themselves in the evolution of civilizations, cultures, and social advances around the world, but also gain an appreciation for their place in it.
At her school, Elizabeth is a 9th-grade team leader, serves on the hiring committee, mentors new teachers, leads professional development, coordinates the National Honor Society, and leads a homework club after school. Committed to preparing the next generation of teachers, Metts coaches through Excel’s Teaching Fellowship program. Additionally, she has broadened her reach as a Teach Plus Massachusetts Policy Fellow and CURATE Fellow for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Elizabeth’s commitment to research projects and hands-on learning, along with her passion for creating a differentiated classroom, will add to the 2026 Fellowship.”
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.