A Muskegon County educator who is known for fostering a positive learning environment has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Quinette Yarbrough, is a fourth-grade teacher at Bunker Elementary. The school is part of the Muskegon 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, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Yarbrough will air this evening.

Yarbrough said a college instructor inspired her to pursue a career in education.

“I was pursuing a nursing degree in what was then a very competitive program at Hope College. At the time, I was also a young single mom to a 10-month-old son. One day, one of my professors overheard me explaining a concept to another student. He walked over and asked what my major was. When I told him it was nursing, he smiled and said, ‘You’re not a nurse, you’re a teacher.’ He convinced me to take a few education classes that would get me into the classroom. Once I did, I fell in love with teaching. I fell in love with kids. Not only that, I discovered I was really good at it. Every concept just made sense to me in a way that didn’t always click for others.”

Yarbrough was nominated for the award by a colleague.

“Quinette has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to our students, colleagues, and the field of education as a whole. Her outstanding commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and her innovative approach to teaching make her a deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition. Quinette’s impact on the classroom is both profound and far-reaching. She has a remarkable ability to engage students in meaningful ways, making complex concepts accessible while fostering critical thinking and a passion for learning. Her teaching style encourages student participation, nurtures curiosity, and promotes a deep understanding of the subject matter. Beyond her classroom work, Quinette has been instrumental in designing and implementing educational initiatives that improve overall student success. She has shown tremendous leadership in mentoring new educators, developing creative curriculum strategies, and offering professional development workshops that enrich our teaching community. Her collaborative spirit and willingness to go above and beyond have made her a valuable resource to both students and colleagues. Quinette is a problem-solver who approaches challenges with both creativity and empathy, always striving to create an environment where every individual feels supported and valued. In addition to her professional achievements, Quinette is a person of integrity, whose positive attitude and unwavering commitment to our students at MPS serve as an inspiration to all who work with her. Her influence extends beyond the classroom, as she is a trusted advisor, a compassionate listener, and a tireless advocate for both students and colleagues.”

Yarbrough earned a bachelor’s degree from Hope College. She has been an educator for 16 years, the last six 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.