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Phillips Academy Educator Wins “Oscars of Teaching”

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson The Birmingham Times A Birmingham instructor on Wednesday was awarded one of the nation’s most prestigious teaching awards — the Milken Educator Award that has been referred to by many as “the Oscars of teaching.” Korri Cunningham, a teacher at John Herbert Phillips Academy and the only one in Alabama to receive […]
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2 years ago

December 5, 2023

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Korri Cunningham, fourth from right, a teacher at John Herbert Phillips Academy, was joined by Schools Superintendent Mark Sullivan, Ed.D., third from right, and other education leaders, as she was presented with the prestigious Milken Educator Award. Cunningham, is among up to 75 recipients across the country this school year who will be awarded as part of the Milken Family. (Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson)

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By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson

The Birmingham Times

A Birmingham instructor on Wednesday was awarded one of the nation’s most prestigious teaching awards — the Milken Educator Award that has been referred to by many as “the Oscars of teaching.”

Korri Cunningham, a teacher at John Herbert Phillips Academy and the only one in Alabama to receive the recognition, was surprised with the award which includes $25,000 to spend how she chooses, in addition to an all-expense paid trip to an educational forum in Los Angeles in June to meet other Milken winners.

The national award publicly recognizes excellence in teaching not only to inspire educators, but also students and communities to “celebrate, elevate and activate” the K-12 teaching profession.

Cunningham, an 8th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher who now works as the International Baccalaureate Coordinator at Phillips working with students and teachers, said she knew very early that she would one day teach.

“I would sit and watch my teacher during naptime,” said Cunningham. “I would watch her every move even though I was supposed to be asleep. I always knew this is what I wanted to do.”

“I knew that I wanted to become a teacher in Kindergarten,” Cunningham said during her acceptance speech. “My teacher had such an impact on my life, and I spent a lot of my nap time just studying her. I knew I needed to be just like her. She treated each of us like we were her world.”

Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan said Cunningham’s passion for teaching and learning is an inspiration to her students and peers. “Mrs. Cunningham finds joy in helping others grow academically,” Sullivan said. “Her dedication to scholars and to teaching helps make Birmingham City Schools strong.”

Milken recipients do not apply to receive the award, but rather are sought out by members of the Milken Family Foundation. Colleagues of each candidate then offer their recommendations for further consideration.

Cunningham’s award was presented by 2001 Milken Educator Award winner, and a board member of the Milken Family Foundation.

“In sports, athletes get gold medals and high school trophies, entertainers get American Music Awards and Oscars in science and medicine, there are Nobel prizes, but consider for a moment the ones making all of the awards happen haven’t been part of the celebration. We’re here to fix that,” said Bishop.

The Phillips Academy teacher said she’s still working her dream job. I’ve been coming through these doors for seven years, and I still enjoy walking in here each day.”

Cunningham earned an Associate of Art in English from Lawson State Community College in 2011, a Bachelor of Science in secondary education-English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2015, and a Master of Education in instructional leadership from the University of West Alabama in 2021.

To watch the livestream of the awards ceremony from this morning, visit this link. For more about Cunningham and her background, see her profile on the official Milken Educator Awards page.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post Phillips Academy Educator Wins “Oscars of Teaching” first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

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June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

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3 days ago

June 17, 2025

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By Congressman James E. Clyburn

WATCH HERE

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10^th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.

“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”