Lottery Spokesman, Jake Harris, presents Laura Thaxton (right) with her Excellence in Education check

An Ionia County educator who is known for bringing a sense of safety into her school and makes sure all students are cared for has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Laura Thaxton, is an English teacher at Ionia High School. The school is part of Ionia 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 in Lansing, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Thaxton will air this evening.

“Laura Thaxton was inspired to become an educator because of teachers she had who believed in her and because of her desire to leave an impact on students and peers, and that is exactly what she has done,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Ms. Thaxton creates a safe and inclusive environment which allows her students to thrive. She embodies all of the characteristics of an excellent educator and is incredibly deserving of this award.”

Thaxton says the teachers she had throughout her educational journey and the impact she was able to make on peers and students working as a substitute teacher led her to pursue a career as an educator.

“I was encouraged to become a substitute teacher upon graduation by my coworkers at Grand Valley’s Writing Center in 2017 – where I worked as a writing consultant. That was my first taste of being a tutor and teacher’s aide.

“I think COVID changed my perspective on what I wanted to make of my life in many ways. I needed to focus on myself and what I wanted to do. Realizing the impact I made on my peers and students in previous years gave me courage to pursue my teaching certification in 2021. I believe that students deserve powerful learning experiences that shape and mold them into the people that they will one day become. After all, the only reason I pursued this career was because of the many teachers and professors I’ve had throughout my long educational journey. They believed in me, even when I didn’t want to believe in myself. Students need that now too, maybe more than ever.”

Thaxton was nominated for the award by a student.

“Ms. Thaxton is a teacher who goes out of her way to make sure every single student that not only walks into her classroom, but into the school in general, is cared for. She uses her lunch and planning periods to talk to students who are having a rough day and uses her kindness and sense of humor to make someone’s day. Ms. Thaxton makes sure everyone is included. She makes sure there is a wheelchair accessible bus before going to debate competitions and makes sure everyone has the accommodations they need in order to be in the school musical that she directs. Ms. Thaxton has the biggest heart. The number one rule in her classroom is to take care of each other. The way she brings a sense of safety and kindness to Ionia High School is indescribable.”

Thaxton earned two bachelor’s degrees from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University. She has been an educator for two years, both 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.