Michigan Lottery Connect

Lottery Spokesman, Jake Harris, presents Sarah Kaminski with her Excellence in Education check.

A Mason County educator who is known for creating an environment of inclusion, joy and celebration in her classroom has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Sarah Kaminski, is a first-grade teacher at Ludington Elementary. The school is part of the Ludington Area 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 and WILX in Lansing, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Kaminski will air this evening.

Kaminski said she knew she wanted to be a teacher at young age.

“Ever since I was in first grade I wanted to be a teacher. I liked all the learning moments my own teacher made with connections to the outside world.

“My class is like a little family with lots of celebrations of milestones and every day we cheer on someone who is reaching their individual goals. I love the growth that first graders make. It’s such an amazing experience to watch them grow so much from the beginning to the end of the year.”

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

“Mrs. Kaminski creates a classroom environment where every child feels included, valued, and genuinely celebrated. Her room is full of joy, learning, movement, and connection. She integrates games, fun pens, dance parties, and even her own student ‘reward store’ to engage and motivate her learners. One of the most loved parts of her classroom is the rotating VIP table, where students are chosen for the day to sit with a friend and enjoy glitter pens, markers, and special privileges. This simple but thoughtful system boosts confidence, builds classroom community, and makes each child feel seen.

“What sets Mrs. Kaminski apart is not only what she does, but why she does it. She treats every student as if they were her own and consistently goes far above what is required of her role. She notices the small things, picks up on students’ emotional needs, and does everything she can to make each one feel special. Her generosity is remarkable — she regularly spends her own money to create memorable experiences and opportunities for her students, from small gifts to classroom enhancements. She does this not for recognition but because she loves teaching and deeply cares for children.

“Her impact extends beyond her classroom. Mrs. Kaminski brings the same enthusiasm, attentiveness, and support to the entire school community. She is the teacher who steps in when someone needs help, who uplifts others, and who radiates positivity wherever she goes.”

Kaminski earned a bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University and a master’s degree from Marygrove College. In addition to her studies, Kaminski served in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard. She has been an educator for 18 years, the last 13 years 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.