Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli, presents Amanda Lewis with her Excellence in Education check.
A Chippewa County educator who is known for creating a classroom full of kindness and warmth has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, Amanda Lewis, is a third-grade teacher at Sault Area Elementary School. The school is part of the Sault 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 in Lansing, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Lewis will air this evening.
“Ms. Lewis exemplifies what it means to teach with heart. Her classroom is not only a place of learning but also a space filled with joy, creativity, and kindness,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Her compassion shines through in the way she encourages her students to think of others and in her constant collaboration with colleagues to ensure every child succeeds.”
Lewis said she knew she wanted to be a teacher at a young age.
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was fortunate to have some truly amazing teachers. Their classrooms were places where curiosity was encouraged, mistakes were part of the journey, and every success was celebrated. The impact those teachers had on me stayed with me. They didn’t just teach lessons from a book; they taught lessons about confidence, kindness, and perseverance. Teaching, for me, is about paying forward the encouragement and belief that changed my life.”
Lewis was nominated for the award by a colleague.
“Amanda is an outstanding third-grade teacher in our district who goes above and beyond for her students every single day. She arrives early each morning to ensure her classroom is thoughtfully prepared and ready for learning. Her room is organized, welcoming, and filled with engaging, meaningful activities that make learning both fun and memorable. It’s clear that her students absolutely adore her.
One of the many things that makes Amanda special is the way she teaches kindness and empathy. She encourages her students to think of others by doing thoughtful acts, such as sending kind notes or small tokens of appreciation to former teachers and staff. Amanda also collaborates closely with colleagues to find creative and effective ways to support students who may be struggling, ensuring that every child feels valued and capable of success.”
Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree from Lake Superior State University. She has been an educator for 10 years, the last eight 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.
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