Michigan Lottery Program Names Grand Rapids Area Teacher 2024 Educator Of The Year
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Spencer Vanderheide, a high school teacher, has been named the Educator of the Year for 2024 by the Michigan Lottery. This esteemed recognition is awarded annually through the lottery’s Excellence in Education program and includes a generous $10,000 prize.
Vanderheide, an instructor at Kenowa Hills High School, emerged as one of the 34 recipients of the weekly competition aimed at acknowledging exceptional public school educators.
Family nomination highlighted new course creation
In 2014, the award program received nominations from numerous Michigan educators. Vanderheide’s nomination stood out, as a family member expressed the positive impact his recently introduced course had made.
For the past ten years, Spencer Vanderheide has devoted himself to the field of education. However, he has recently observed a distressing pattern. Despite the consistent nature of education itself, there has been a significant surge in student anxiety, depression, and suicide rates over the past decade. These alarming statistics have deeply unsettled Spencer, prompting him to question the actions taken by educational institutions to address this issue. In early 2020, he embarked on a quest to find out: “What measures are schools implementing to tackle this problem?”
Under his guidance, a fresh course named Knight L.I.F.E. (Leadership. Innovation. Future. Education) was established. A total of 184 students opted for the course using their elective credit, prompting the school administration to offer four fully occupied sections. In a year overshadowed by desolation, Spencer managed to bring his students a ray of hope.
Having obtained his bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a master’s degree from Western Michigan, Vanderheide has dedicated his entire nine-year teaching career to Kenowa Hills High School. Principal Nate Robrahn praised him for his remarkable achievement.
According to a statement, Robrahn expressed that Mr. Vanderheide has greatly influenced the students at Kenowa Hills High School in a remarkable way. He consistently motivates them to strive for their personal best and emphasizes that they possess inherent value and worth. Robrahn firmly believes that there is no educator more deserving of the Michigan Lottery’s Educator of the Year award than Mr. Vanderheide.
Vanderheide called to career in education
Teaching was an attractive profession for the 2024 Educator of the Year due to its potential to assist students in achieving their utmost capabilities.
Vanderheide expressed that as a teacher, they have the chance to provide support and motivation to students, enabling them to realize their capabilities and strive towards their highest potential. They frequently emphasize the importance of self-worth and remind students that they are valuable, significant, and deserving of success. This approach aids in fostering a sense of self-acceptance and boosting students’ self-assurance.
Being named the Michigan Lottery’s 2024 Educator of the Year is both a source of great honor and humility for me. Every day, I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to work alongside my students and witness their growth, not only within the confines of the classroom but also beyond. The ability to make a significant difference in their lives and contribute positively to our community brings me immense satisfaction.
Vanderheide was awarded by Lottery Commissioner Brian O. Neill.
Neill expressed his admiration for Spencer Vanderheide’s unwavering commitment and empathy, which have significantly improved the lives of numerous students at Kenowa Hills. With great satisfaction, Vanderheide has been honored with the title of Michigan Lottery Educator of the Year.
Annual honoree chosen from weekly winners
The Excellence in Education program recognizes outstanding Michigan teachers on a weekly basis. Every week, one teacher is honored with a plaque, a cash prize of $1,500, and a $500 grant for their class, school, or district. Additionally, all winners have the opportunity to be showcased in a weekly TV news segment alongside the Lotto’s media partners, such as WXYZ in Detroit. From the pool of 34 weekly winners, the annual award recipient is chosen.
The selection of nominees is determined by various criteria, such as exceptional performance in academic settings, unwavering commitment to their students, strong leadership capabilities, proven effectiveness in their work, and the ability to inspire others.
The recipients of the Educator of the Year award in the past were:
- In Detroit, at Fisher Magnet Lower Academy, Janice Smith serves as a school social worker in the year 2021.
- In 2020, Megan Sidge worked as an Autism Spectrum Disorder teacher at Hickory Woods Elementary in Walled Lake.
- Stewart Kieliszewski is an educator at Ubly Community Schools, teaching Earth science, biology, mechatronics, and media to students in grades eight through 12.
- Kerri Moccio is a first-grade literacy intervention specialist at Bedford Elementary School in Dearborn Heights as of 2018.
- In 2017, Linda Holzwarth held the position of a social studies teacher at Portage West Middle School located in Portage.
- In 2016, Daniel Carr became a Spanish and sports marketing teacher at Waverly High School in Lansing.
- In 2015, Michael Craig was employed as a special education teacher at the Charles Drew Transition Center situated in Detroit.
Michigan Lottery gives schools $1.419 Billion for school aid
Over the past three years, the state’s lottery program has continuously surpassed its previous achievements by contributing over $1 billion dollars each year to the School Aid Fund.
In fiscal year 2021, there was a remarkable contribution of $1.419 billion, surpassing the previous record set in 2020 by an additional $240 million.
The School Aid Fund received lottery contributions for the past six years.
- 2020: $1.179 billion
- 2019: $1.070 billion
- 2018: $941.2 million
- 2017: $924.1 million
- 2016: $888.9 million
- 2015: $795.5 million
