The award winner, Michael Palmer, is the principal at Port Huron High School. The school is part of the Port Huron Area 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 Palmer will air this evening.
Palmer says supportive family members and high school teachers encouraged him to pursue a career in education.
“I was fortunate to have great teachers and several relatives who encouraged me to pursue education as a career. Today, it’s my students who keep me motivated and going each day.”
Building relationships with students is one of Palmer’s favorite things about his role.
“Seeing my students outside of the classroom and building relationships with them is one of my favorite things to do. Those interactions can be so meaningful for students and when they know they have you in their corner, they start to flourish.”
Palmer was nominated for the award by his superintendent.
“I successfully sat in the principal’s chair for 10 years and can honestly say that I couldn’t hold a candle to Mr. Palmer’s leadership. He not only knows every student’s name, but their family and their stories. Mike cares for every student in the building and will do whatever it takes to make them successful. In fact, in all my years of education, I have never met an individual as dedicated to the success of each student as Mike Palmer. He is gifted with the ability to see into a student, understand the needs blocking success, and creating a pathway that is achievable. The students located within the boundaries of Mike’s influence would attest to the fact that they are aware of his concern and care for them. In his earnestness to provide each student with the absolute best education despite their background of poverty, home dysfunction, or personal/educational disability, he does not slide on standards or requirements. Because he is clear with expectations in a caring environment, students find the motivation to rise above their personal challenges and strive for the education which he stresses will provide a better future for them. Mike shows the same level of care and concern for the staff. Currently, Port Huron High School has one of the lowest staff turnover rates in our district. Simply put, staff at Port Huron High School do not want to leave! Mike is just as dedicated to the success of his staff as he is to his students.”
Palmer earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree from Marygrove College. He has worked in education for 24 years, the last 10 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.