Natasha Cooke Nieves, a teacher at Park Slope’s PS 282 on 6th Avenue and Berkeley Place, won a $25,000 cash award from the Milken Family Foundation (yes Milken of junk bond fame) for accomplished teachers. Nieves was among four other teachers from New York state to win the grant.

$25,000. Now that’s a very nice prize.

A science teacher at PS 282 for ten years, she now does staff development there. As reported by WNYC, today teachers and students gathered int he school’s gymnasium for the announcement. State Commissioner David Steiner, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, and Lowell Milken of the Milken Family Foundation spoke briefly before revealing the real reason for their visit. Nieves knew in advance but was sworn to secrecy.

Not surprisingly, huge cheers erupted in the packed gymnasium as the students and teachers cheered their own. Nieves reportedly told the crowd: “Without you, boys and girls, we the teachers would not be here. Remember that you are our future and you’re going to be teaching us some day.”