A Mason County educator who makes sure her students feel safe and loved has been honored with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Nicole Paul, is a special education teacher at Scottville Elementary. The school is part of the Mason County Central 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 Paul will air this evening.

“Special Education teachers are extremely important in our schools to ensure that all students have the tools and opportunities they need to learn and succeed,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Nicole Paul is one of these incredible Special Education teachers who always ensures her students feel safe and ed. She makes a difference in her students’ lives each and every day.”

Paul says she has always wanted to be an educator since she was a child.

“As cliché as it sounds, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I used to make my parents play school with me as a child, and I would help a younger cousin with homework on the bus as a child.”

Paul was nominated for the award by a parent of a student.

“Ms. Paul is the most loving special needs teacher. She listens to parents, doctors, and her students. She spends hours at night trying to figure out how to help her students. My son was so scared this year that he was doing anything to come home, and she never gave up on him. He feels 100% safe with her and can relax while in her class. She is amazing!”

Paul earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Ferris State University. She has been an educator for 15 years, the last two 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.