Acting Lottery Commissioner, Joe Froehlich, presents Jeff Snody with his Excellence in Education check.
An Oakland County educator who is known for building confidence in his students has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, Jeff Snody, is a middle school science teacher at Sarah Banks Middle School. The school is part of Walled Lake Consolidated 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 Snody will air this evening.
Snody said he was driven to become an educator so he could help students reach their potential.
“When I was younger, I would help my friends when they were struggling in school. It was rewarding to help them overcome challenges and realize that with a little extra work, they could reach their true potential. That experience really impacted me in a positive way, and I knew I wanted to do that for the rest of my life. Helping students work through challenges and seeing the proud smiles of accomplishment is something that never gets routine or old. It really keeps me motivated to help students each day!”
Snody was nominated for the award by a student.
“Mr. Snody is the kind of teacher who changes lives. He does much more than teach lessons, he supports his students, builds their confidence, and makes school a better place for everyone. His kindness, hard work, and positive attitude make him stand out as an amazing teacher who truly deserves recognition. He always takes time to help anyone who needs it. If a student is struggling, he never gives up on them. He explains things clearly, gives extra help when needed, and makes sure every student understands the material. He listens, he encourages, and he makes each student feel important. In his classroom, everyone feels accepted, respected, and supported. Mr. Snody also plays a big role in the school community. He helps other teachers, joins school events, and supports students outside of class. Whether he’s giving advice, cheering students on, or simply being there when someone needs him, he always shows that he cares. His positive attitude makes the school a better, friendlier place. Teachers like Mr. Snody are rare. He is fun, understanding, and dedicated. He believes in his students and helps them believe in themselves. His actions make a real difference every single day.”
Snody earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Marygrove College. He has been an educator for 28 years, the last 27 in his 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.
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