Parvanta is the only Milken Educator Award winner from Maine this year, and among only 40 honorees in the United States. The award was given to Parvanta in recognition of his “non-traditional approach that truly connects with students, and his understated passion for video editing and storytelling that prompts students to spend extra time on their schoolwork as they learn skills that will translate well in an evolving future of rapidly advancing technology,” according to a press release by the Milken Family Foundation.

Makin, who was named a Milken educator in 2001, shared, “Mr. Parvanta exemplifies the power of individual teachers to inspire students and to transform school culture. Described by colleagues as a quiet leader, he consistently finds opportunities to apply his content and instructional practice in authentic and meaningful ways that connect and celebrate students, staff, and community.”

Foley spoke about the importance of teachers before she shared the real reason for her visit. “The single most important thing for students is the quality of the educators,” she said. “Adam Parvanta knows that technology is an essential foundation for education just as it is throughout life,” added Foley. “By integrating tech narrative skills into the classroom, Parvanta is helping students become authors of their own life stories. We’re proud to welcome this innovative and visionary Milken Educator.”

Parvanta, who was clearly shocked to realize the assembly was organized in his honor, spoke to the cheering crowd and shared, “This is wild. I don’t do praise. I don’t take praise. I like to help people and make people happy. I’m happy when I see other people happy, especially students. It’s incredible to be on this end and to know that you appreciate what I do so much.”

In speaking about Parvanta, Principal Brian Jandreau, said, “One of the things he does is puts others in the spotlight to celebrate who we are as a school, as a culture, and I personally am grateful for that work that you do.”

Parvanta earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Maine in 2003. His recent highlights include the production of a moving video about Gorham’s unified basketball program, in which GHS students play and compete with special needs students, and he helped Gorham secure an Adopt-A-Classroom grant from the Maine Educational Loan Marketing Corporation to connect high school and elementary students.

He will travel to Indianapolis in March 2020 to network with other Milken Award recipients and exchange ideas on the future of education.