College of the Ozarks alumnus Dallas DeWeese receives Milken Educator Award, “Oscar of Education''

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks alumnus Dallas DeWeese, Hollister Middle School social studies and student council elective teacher, was awarded the Milken Educator Award during a school assembly on Dec. 19, 2024.

The award was a cash prize of $25,000 for top educators in their early-to-mid career who demonstrate excellence in their field. The Milken Foundation likes to present this prestigious honor with an element of surprise as it is considered the “Oscar of Education” to only 45 national recipients. DeWeese was the only educator from the state of Missouri who received this honor.

DeWeese teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, creating a collaborative learning environment that tailors individual paths to success for each student. He equips them with skills that extend beyond their time at Hollister. By integrating English language arts, science, and math into his social studies lessons, DeWeese provides a rich, multifaceted educational experience that reinforces key concepts across subjects. His engaging, hands-on activities spark excitement and inspire his students.

“First, I want my students to understand the importance of becoming contributing citizens,” said DeWeese. “We explore how the world functions and analyze different worldviews, helping them see that they play a role locally and globally.”

Under DeWeese’s guidance, enrollment in the student council nearly quadrupled. In this class, students build their own student government and civilization, participating in real-world activities such as creating a business plan, complete with proposals, budgets, and strategies. DeWeese also established the Tiger Coffee Shop, where students gain valuable experience in customer service and leadership.

“Second, I hope to instill in them the value of a strong work ethic. I want them to know that if they are willing to work hard, they can achieve anything they set their minds to,” DeWeese said.

DeWeese’s work extends beyond the doors of his classroom and throughout the halls of the school where he leads the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) committee. In that position, he spearheads a team that analyzes the behavior of students and creates and implements strategies that appropriately address any behavioral issues, giving the students a positive incentive to act appropriately. Through his works, Hollister Middle School has experienced a significant increase in positive behavior among the students and improvement in school culture.

“My goal is to be a source of encouragement and support for the students at Hollister, helping them pursue and achieve their dreams,” DeWeese said.

The alumnus is involved in all facets of the school and student engagement. DeWeese leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, coaches basketball and softball, tutors students outside of regular classroom hours, chairs the assembly focus team, and serves as the seventh grade team leader.

“Mr. DeWeese is a one in a million teacher,” said Dr. Rachel Hodges, Hollister Middle School principal. “He is very sound instructionally, but his reach goes far beyond the content. He invests in his students. He believes in them. He loves them... and they know it. Mr. DeWeese pushes them to be leaders and sees the potential in all students, even when they may not see that potential in themselves.”

For more information, contact the College of the Ozarks Public Relations Office at (417) 690-2212.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and fiscal responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award 2024 and the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.