Gov. Perry gives Austin educator, Olivares, a congratulatory hug.

Some call it the Oscars of teaching.

Two Austin educators got the surprise of their lives Thursday, in the form of a $25,000 award and an all expense paid trip to Los Angeles.

Del Valle Freshman Academy Principal Adelaida Olivares and teacher Maricruz Aguayo-Tabor from Austin's LBJ Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy are two of the 50 educators in the United States to win the Milken Educator Award this year.

Adelaida Olivares thought Gov. Rick Perry, Education Commissioner Robert Scott and Superintendent Bernard Blanchard came to her campus Thursday to commend her school's performance, not necessarily hers.

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Little did the Del Valle High School freshman principal know that she was the one in for a big surprise.

"I was completely dumbfounded," Olivares said. "Very honored, and truly humbled."

Olivares, the daughter of migrant farm workers, started her career as a bilingual elementary teacher.

"I have been so honored and I have been so impacted by the education that has been bestowed upon me, coming from an immigrant family," she said.

Olivares has worked in Del Valle since graduating from college after starting out as a bilingual kindergarten teacher.

	The surprise brought tears to Adelaida Olivares' eyes.

In just 10 years, she became a middle school principal and then moved on to high school. Among her achievements, Olivares helped Del Valle High reduce the number of students held back in ninth grade.

"To among other things serve our students by helping to reduce the dropout rate and increase our TAKS performance," Olivares said.

But at the end day, she said the biggest reward is watching her students achieve the type of success she's seen in her own life.

Olivares is one of 50 recipients of the 2009 Milken Educator Award in the Country.

The other Austin recipient, Aguayo-Tabor, is a social studies teacher at Austin's Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School.

The $25,000 cash prize can be spent however the winners choose. For more information about the prize, visit MFF.org.