Portsmouth School Counselor Surprised with National Milken Educator Award

​Kyle Spaltholz, a school counselor at Portsmouth Middle School, thought he was attending a routine assembly about the school’s positive learning environment. Instead, he received the surprise of a lifetime: Rhode Island’s sole 2025-26 Milken Educator Award, which includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.
The assembly took an unexpected turn when Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley took the stage to announce a special honor for one exceptional educator. As students and colleagues cheered, a visibly shocked Spaltholz made his way to the front of the gym to accept the award, often called the “Oscars of Teaching.”
“I was sitting there wondering who it was going to be,” Spaltholz recalled in an interview. “When they said my name, all the kids knew who I was... they were chanting my name. It was overwhelming.”
The entire event was a well-guarded secret. “Nobody knew,” Spaltholz said. “Not even my principal. It was only maybe one or two people that actually knew what was going on, and everyone else was just along for the ride.”
Spaltholz is the first-ever recipient from the Portsmouth School Department and the 85th from Rhode Island since the program began in the state in 1990. He joins a prestigious national network of over 3,000 educators. The award has no formal nomination or application process; instead, the Milken Family Foundation identifies early to mid-career educators for their achievements and future potential.
“Kyle Spaltholz’s boundless leadership, resourcefulness, and genuine passion for supporting others elevates everything he does,” said Dr. Foley. “Whether he is teaching, coaching, or counseling, Portsmouth’s students are fortunate to have his guidance.”
A graduate of the University of Rhode Island and Providence College, Spaltholz has worked at Portsmouth Middle School for over 11 years. He began as an English teacher before becoming an instructional coach and, most recently, a school counselor for 7th and 8th graders. He has a particular fondness for the middle school years.
“It's just the sass and the hormones,” he said. “It’s such a good time... to really make that lasting change. My goal is to help make this their best year.”
Spaltholz has been instrumental in leading several key district and school-wide initiatives. He has spearheaded the implementation of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) to align counseling practices with national standards and has been a leader in developing the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework to help students academically and behaviorally.
He also runs several after-school clubs, including a Minecraft for Education club and Anchored4Life, a peer-to-peer support group for students transitioning to the school, many of whom come from military families.
“These kids have been going through a lot,” Spaltholz reflected. “I just want to help not only protect them but give them the skills to survive in this world.”
Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green praised his contributions, stating, “Over his tenure at Portsmouth Middle School, Kyle has earned the trust of both his students and his colleagues because of his solution-oriented, student-first approach. He represents the very best of Rhode Island educators.”
As for the $25,000 prize, Spaltholz is still processing the news. "I have no idea what to do with it," he admitted, though he mentioned his mother’s pragmatic suggestion of paying off student loans. "I'll find something fun to do, for sure."