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Carpinteria Teacher Receives Prestigious Milken Educator Award

Brandon Sportel strummed a guitar and led a group of Canalino Elementary School students in their school song during Wednesday morning’s assembly.

“We are Canalino whales,” the group belted out, center stage.

Little did Sportel know that a whale of a surprise was just minutes away.

After all, educational big-wigs from throughout California were in the auditorium, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder Lowell Milken.

“We shape the future and we’re a great, diverse state with people from all backgrounds and all countries of the world,” Torlakson said.

The Milken Educator Award recognizes exceptional work of educators as a model for the state and nation, and this one had Sportel’s name all over it.

“Every time I do a notification it’s fresh, it’s exciting!” said Milken.

Sportel’s honor comes with an unrestricted $25,000.

“One of the things that I want to emphasize is meeting the social, emotional and mental health needs of students,” Sportel said. “I think that’s kind of the second part of the whole child.”

“What do you think of your teacher?” NewsChannel 3 asked one student. “I think he’s fantabulous!” the student said.

Another student was impressed with the timing of his teacher’s special award.

“He’s like the best teacher and his birthday is gonna be on this Saturday. He’s going to turn 37!”

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