A Newaygo County educator who is known for making children her passion has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Jennifer Farmer, is a teacher and principal at the one-room Big Jackson Public School (BJPS). The school makes up the Big Jackson 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, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Farmer will air this evening.

Farmer said she was called to education because of her desire to teach and mentor.

“I entered the field as a second career. I worked in business after college and wasn’t fulfilled. I was reflecting and realized I was continually seeking out positions where I could train and mentor new employees. I had the opportunity to join the AmeriCorps Partners in Education program, and every day that I worked with the students and staff I filled my bucket along with theirs. My father’s oldest sister, my Aunt Coralee Haas, was an elementary teacher, and she has always been one of my biggest influences. Along with her, I’ve had many role models, both relatives and friends who are teachers and leaders, who have inspired me to continue and grow in this field. I enjoy working with students of all ages, including adults. Every time I see that light of understanding turn on in someone’s eyes after we dig deep into a topic, every time a student tells me they love a subject after we study it, I deepen my resolve to continue. I want families to trust that we are helping their students become contributing citizens, with the knowledge to succeed in whatever path they choose.”

Farmer was nominated for the award by a colleague.

“BJPS is a one-room schoolhouse serving kindergarten to fifth-grade students. Jennifer Farmer is new this year at BJPS. She is doing an amazing job at pulling all of the curriculum together and all resources to have all grades running effectively for the students being served. It’s a huge task to gather all of this along with enrichments, STEM, STEAM, physical education, art, and music each week, as well as the reading, writing, and meeting the special educational components/goals for some of its students as well. BJPS is in a very rural location serving a very economically disadvantaged population. Jennifer spends many hours each day early at school before the school day begins at 8 a.m. and stays late after the 3 p.m. school day. It’s not uncommon to find her there at the school on the weekend as well. This school, these children’s lives, are her passion, as well as the teachers and staff that work there. I am a better person to be working alongside Jennifer in the classroom.”

Farmer earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree from Union University, and an Educational Specialist degree from Grand Valley State University.

She has been an educator for 25 years; this is her first year at BJPS.

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.