ONSTED – A third grade teacher in Onsted has been named regional teacher of the year for the region that includes Lenawee County.
Kristina Dennis now has the opportunity to become Michigan Teacher of the Year, the Onsted Community Schools announced.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is hosting the Teacher of the Year program “to honor and elevate the voices of teachers,” according to a news release. Honorees will have the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge as they work with stakeholders to strengthen Michigan’s public schools for students and educators.
“The Regional Teachers of the Year play a key role in their schools and communities, and in our efforts to improve our schools statewide,” state Superintendent Michael Rice said in a statement. “They provide insight into the needs of our 1.4 million schoolchildren and educators across the state. We are grateful for their leadership and dedication to the teaching profession and look forward to working with them in the coming school year.”
The Regional Teachers of the Year were selected following a multi-part, competitive application process that began with the nomination for Michigan Teacher of the Year. Students, staff and community members from across the state submitted nominations.
The 2024-2025 honorees were chosen for their dedication to the teaching profession.
Lenawee County is located in Region 8, which includes Hillsdale, Jackson, Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw counties.
The next step in the process is for each of the ten regional Teachers of the Year to interview with a statewide panel of education stakeholders, with one individual selected as the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year. The winner will have a seat at the table of the State Board of Education as a non-voting member, attend several national conferences with fellow State Teachers of the Year from other U.S. states and territories to represent the experiences of Michigan’s teachers and students, and will be Michigan’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year.
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Program costs for the Teacher of the Year program are covered through a partnership with the Meemic Foundation.
Steve Head, superintendent of Onsted Community Schools, said Dennis “does her very best with every student in her class.”
“Her relationships with families are truly exceptional,” Head said. “Kristina also uses innovative techniques to teach literacy to her students. We could not be more proud of Ms. Dennis and are grateful for the commitment she shows to her students and families.”
This article originally appeared in The Daily Telegram: Onsted teacher named regional teacher of the year
