An Eaton County educator known for teaching to her students’ needs has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, Kellie Jo West, is a third-grade teacher at Winans Elementary. The school is part of the Waverly Community School District.
The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence In Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.
Winners of the weekly award receive a $2,000 cash prize. At the end of the school year, one of the weekly award winners will be selected to receive the Lottery’s Educator of the Year award and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.
Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring West will air this evening.
West says she was in elementary school when she was drawn to pursue education as a career.
“I being drawn to the idea of being a teacher way back when I was in elementary school. It was always very clear in my mind that this was my path. I had inspiring teachers that made me feel special and capable. I think working to be that person for others was appealing to me. I never considered doing anything else. The goal for me has always been and continues to be to make a difference in the lives of my students. I believe that knowledge (education) is key to helping us grow humans that will make our community and the world a better place. Having the opportunity to help nourish minds and nurture character is both a responsibility and a blessing. I continue to be part of this profession because I believe I can still make a difference. More importantly, I still feel equipped to do so.”
Connecting on a personal level with her students is West’s favorite part of her day.
“One of my favorite times in the classroom happens right at the beginning of the day. It is an opportunity to connect with students and have discussions that don’t always have an academic focus. I try to greet all my students as they enter. We have discussions about their afterschool activities, hobbies, and family. Most of all it gives me a first look at how they are acting and feeling. Sometimes I have music playing at this time, but often it is just a time of connecting. I often get to see my students from the previous years during arrival. I love those smiles and morning hugs as they stop by. I love that they feel comfortable coming back to see me.”
West was nominated for the award by the parent of a former student.
“My daughter came into Ms. West’s class well below grade level, and because of Ms. West’s encouragement and , she is now a bit above grade level. Ms. West treats her students as individuals and teaches to their needs. She is warm and kind to both students and parents. She gives parents the tools needed to help students at home and regularly s parents with progress.”
West earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., and a master’s degree from Michigan State University. She has worked in education for 29 years, the last six in her current position.
Excellence in Education award nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:
- Excellence – Their work consistently helps students and/or their schools or school districts advance to higher levels of academic achievement.
- Dedication – They consistently go above and beyond expectations to help students succeed.
- Inspiration – Their work inspires others around them to exceed expectations either academically or professionally.
- Leadership – They demonstrate clear leadership skills in their positions with their school or school districts.
- Effectiveness – The nominee’s work has clear and positive results on the educational advancement of students within the school or school district.
