Michigan Lottery Connect

Acting Lottery Commissioner, Joe Froehlich, presents Amy Hindbaugh-Marr with her Excellence in Education check.

A Gratiot County educator who is known for bringing joy to “every student she encounters” has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Amy Hindbaugh-Marr, is a K-6 STEAM teacher with Ithaca Public Schools.

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, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Hindbaugh-Marr will air this evening.

Hindbaugh-Marr said her love of sharing science with others led her to a career in education.

“I started my career in education as a K-2 science consultant and found it exciting to share my love of science with students, colleagues, and community members. That position introduced me to the curriculum development, peer collaboration, and community connections that have fueled the rest of my teaching career and prepared me to develop our district’s K-6 STEAM program and outdoor education area.”

Hindbaugh-Marr was nominated for the award by a former student who is now a colleague.

“Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr is a teacher who brings joy to every student she encounters. Her work in the STEAM Lab and in the classroom reflects a level of dedication and innovation that is truly exceptional. As a former student, I can personally attest to the positive impact she has. She encouraged me to continue learning, even when I faced challenges due to learning disabilities. Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr fosters a classroom culture rooted in kindness, curiosity, and critical thinking. She provides a supportive and creative learning environment where students are empowered to grow both academically and personally. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr established the elementary school’s after-school robotics program through the FIRST LEGO League. Her LEGO Club is a favorite among students, combining engineering and teamwork in a fun and engaging setting. Under her guidance, students build and program robots that compete in challenges, earning points for performance, collaboration, and good sportsmanship even in the face of setbacks.

“Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr consistently cultivates a learning environment filled with creativity and excellence. Her students have earned recognition and awards every year under her leadership. She is a remarkable educator and a powerful representation of the values that define Michigan’s commitment to excellence in education.”

Hindbaugh-Marr earned a bachelor’s degree from Albion College. She has been an educator for 28 years, the last nine 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.