Music teacher Nick Jacques wins $25,000 Milken Educator award

It's an achievement only received by educators who are dedicated to student growth and improving education.

Nick Jacques is a music teacher at Carson Middle school and he got a surprise of a lifetime when he was announced as a recipient.

"Well it sends a big message that hard work, dedication, and being a perfectionist as I tell my students goes a long way in achieving some results that you could never achieve as just a ordinary teacher in a pretty extraordinary school district," said Jacques.

Jacques was presented the award this afternoon at an all-school assembly by the Milken family foundation and Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak.

Jacques is one of the two winners chosen from Nevada this year and is among up to 40 honorees.

His students said it's an award their teacher very much earned.

"I feel like he deserves it because he always works hard for his students to succeed in life and he always encourages us to keep on practicing on our music," said band student Nidal Addelhady. "He never says to quit or says we're bad, only to work on getting better."

Jacques said he is excited to work with other recipients and inspire others.

He will attend a Milken educator forum next year in Indianapolis where he will meet with a network of colleagues and federal leaders on the future of education.

"As a result of that I'm going to be plugged into a network of educators that need that morale boost and help them tap into their inner potential when they feel underappreciated and underpaid and under supported in other schools," added Jacques.