Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli (right), presenting Kelly Herberholz (left) with her Excellence in Education check

A Macomb County educator known for creating a positive school culture both inside and out of her classroom has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Kelly Herberholz, teaches science at Dakota High School. The school is part of the Chippewa Valley 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, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Herberholz will air this evening.

“As soon as I met Kelly Herberholz, I could sense her positivity and passion for education,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Her energy is infectious, and it is no surprise she is a beloved teacher at Dakota High School. Her passion for teaching science in a way that keeps students engaged and her emphasis on being a model for young women who want to pursue a career in science make her a great fit for the Excellence in Education award.”

Herberholz says a career in education allows her to combine all her passions.

“When thinking about what career to pursue, education just made perfect sense for me. It allowed me to combine my passion for science, leadership, and serving my community. Growing up, I had wonderful experiences in school and excellent teachers. I was always drawn to science classes. I love the analytical aspects of science and the opportunity to experiment and use problem solving skills. I also love collaborating and working with others towards a common goal.  Teaching is the perfect opportunity for me to work with young people, share my passion for science, and guide students in working towards their goals.”

Herberholz was nominated for the award by a colleague.

“What makes Ms. Herberholz stand out above other excellent teachers is her commitment not only to her students in chemistry and AP chemistry but in her work to establish a positive school culture both inside and out of her classroom.  Ms. Herberholz sends a postcard home with a positive or encouraging note to each of her 120+ students. Each day, for every hour, she greets students at the door as they enter her classroom. But what is truly outstanding is her commitment to school culture. As the Student Government advisor, she plans and executes events to build community among students. She has put in a lot of thought and energy into developing an advisory period at Dakota High School which will be piloted this school year. She is also a member of the School Improvement Staff Morale committee and helps to build community within our seemingly large staff.  It is hard to really put into words all she does or the genuine passion she has for education and fostering positive relationships. Working with her makes me a better educator.”

Herberholz earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Michigan State University. She has been an educator for 11 years, all 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.