Steve Moskal poses for a photo after accepting his Excellence in Education Award.
A Macomb County educator known for inspiring students to succeed and overcome any obstacles they may face both in the classroom and beyond has been honored with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, Steve Moskal, teaches biology and robotics at Clintondale High School, which is part of the Clintondale 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 plaque, a $1,500 cash prize, and a $500 grant to their classroom, school or school district. One of the weekly winners will be selected as the Educator of the Year 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, and WNEM-TV in Saginaw. The news segment featuring Moskal will air this evening in Grand Rapids and Lansing, and then on Thursday in Saginaw and Detroit.
Moskal said his favorite part of being an educator is “working with kids. It’s very rewarding, especially when you see them go on to achieve bigger and better things, such as going to college and having careers.”
He said he’s always loved coaching and teaching young people, and that led him to a career in education.
Moskal said his students motivate him to do his best every day. “When I see my students succeed, that is my No. 1 motivation. From success on projects and tests to success at the collegiate level, it’s wonderful to see young people do well.”
Steve Moskal is interviewed after being presented with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
A student nominated Moskal for the Excellence in Education award and described him as “truly kind hearted and one of the most inspiring and caring teachers I’ve ever met.”
“Mr. Moskal is a phenomenal teacher, he spends hours making sure that we understand the information. He has a huge heart and always is there to lend a hand, he is someone that all his students look up to and he has helped multiple students graduate and pursue higher education,” the nomination said.
“He goes above and beyond for any student who needs help in anything whether it’s college applications or chemistry homework. Mr. Moskal is a great role model to all of his students. He tells his students to never give up and never let anything stop you from achieving your dream.
“I was a part of Mr. Moskal’s robotics class/team and despite our financial disadvantage, we made it all the way to the semifinals two years in a row of the FIRST Robotics Competition! We learned leadership skills, teamwork and valuable life lessons that will guide us through college and higher education.
“Mr. Moskal taught me the importance of helping others, giving back to my community and keeping a positive mindset. Mr. Moskal is the reason why I want to be an educator. I want to help shine a positive light in my community.”
Moskal earned a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and a master’s degree from Southeastern University. He has been an educator for 21 years, all with the Clintondale Community School District.
Outstanding public school educators may be nominated for an Excellence in Education award at http://bit.ly/ExcellenceInEducation or through the websites of the Lottery’s media partner stations.
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.
