PIKE COUNTY, Ala. (WDNews) — A Pike County High School agriscience teacher was surprised with a national honor Tuesday, receiving a $25,000 Milken Educator Award during a schoolwide assembly.
Christian Stanley, who teaches seventh through 12th grade agriscience and leads the Pike County Agriscience Academy, was presented with the award by Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop. Alabama State Superintendent Eric G. Mackey also attended the ceremony.
Stanley is one of only 30 educators nationwide selected for the 2025-26 Milken award and the only recipient from Alabama this year. The award comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.
“Christian Stanley excels as an educator, mentor, colleague, and community leader,” Bishop said. “Students are lucky to have such rich, hands-on experiences that allow them to make meaningful contributions to the global economy.”
Mackey praised Stanley’s work inside and outside the classroom.
“Mr. Stanley represents everything we hope for in Alabama classrooms,” Mackey said. “This honor shines a light on what’s possible when purpose and persistence come together in education.”
Stanley is the 43rd Alabama educator to be recognized since the state joined the program in 1998 and the first from Pike County Schools. The Milken Educator Awards, often called the “Oscars of Teaching,” do not accept applications or nominations. Instead, honorees are selected for their achievements and future potential.
At Goshen High, Stanley oversees Alabama’s only high school agriculture program offering college credit, allowing students to earn industry certifications or associate degrees free of charge through Enterprise State Community College, where he also teaches.
His classes—including animal science, horticulture, landscape design and floral design—emphasize real-world skills. Students grow hundreds of heads of lettuce weekly using a controlled-climate freight farm system that supplies cafeterias in the community. Stanley also guides the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter, which has produced district and state officers and competition winners.
Beyond teaching, Stanley mentors new educators, leads professional development, and serves in multiple leadership roles, including FFA Agriscience Education LDE state chair, south district chair for FFA Creed Speaking, and vice president of the Alabama Association of Agricultural Educators. He also serves on the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association board.
A familiar face locally, Stanley maintains partnerships with farmers, drives students to events after earning his commercial driver’s license, and announces Friday night football games.
Stanley holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural systems and education from Southern Illinois University and a master’s in agriscience education from Auburn University.
The Milken Educator Award, first presented in 1987, has awarded more than $76 million to outstanding educators across the country. Recipients join a national network of more than 3,000 teachers and receive access to mentorship programs, leadership development, and an all-expenses-paid forum in Washington, D.C., in June 2026.
