Lottery Spokesman, Jake Harris, presents Avery Whitten with her Excellence in Education check.

A Genesee County educator who is known for her desire to help others has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Avery Whitten, is a high school math teacher at Linden High School. The school is part of the Linden Area 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 and WILX in Lansing, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Whitten will air this evening.

Whitten said her passion for giving back is what led her to pursue a career in education.

“My desire to help others is what inspired my interest in education. Growing up, I volunteered in classrooms with students in grades below me, and I realized how much I loved supporting others and giving back. I also have a special needs sister who has had a huge impact on me. She taught me that everyone learns in different ways and at different paces. She has helped shape the way I view education and inspired me to create a classroom where all students feel supported.

“My students are my biggest drive in teaching. One of the most rewarding moments is when you are working with a student, and you see that ‘aha’ moment when everything finally clicks. You can see their confidence grow and the pride they feel when they realize they can do it. Being able to support my students through challenges, celebrate their progress, and help them believe in themselves is what makes teaching so meaningful to me.”

Whitten was nominated for the award by the parent of a student.

“Avery Whitten goes above and beyond the role of teacher and coach. She is a math teacher and is the first teacher my daughter has had that teaches math in a way that she can understand. It has been such a blessing to see her confidence soar in an area she has consistently struggled in.

“Avery has also organized an open pantry in her classroom. She has supplies from food to shampoo and deodorant to feminine products. She wants this to be an open resource for anyone in the building with no questions asked because it’s hard to ask for help as a teenager who needs these items. She keeps it stocked on her own dime. She is also the freshman volleyball coach and has helped these young ladies transition through a tough year. She sees these young ladies in and out of the classroom and has personally helped my daughter navigate some tough moments, proving she is invested in making her students better both academically and personally.”

Whitten earned a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and is currently working on a master’s degree at Central Michigan University. She has been an educator for four years, all of which has been 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.