A Wayne County educator who is known for dedicating her life to the success of her students has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, LaTasha Thomas, is an assistant principal at Davison Elementary-Middle School. The school is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD).
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 Thomas will air this evening.
Thomas said her desire to develop future leaders inspired her to pursue a career in education.
“Being able to explain concepts in ways to reach each type of learner and to inspire our future leaders are some of the things that attracted me to a career in education. My desire is to equip students with knowledge and skills to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.”
Thomas was nominated for the award by a former student.
“LaTasha Thomas has dedicated her life and career to serving students, families, and her community with excellence. As both an educator and assistant principal, LaTasha has gone above and beyond to nurture the academic success, personal growth, and confidence of her students. Her influence has extended far beyond the classroom – many of her former elementary students have remained connected with her through the years, crediting her guidance and encouragement as a foundation for their adult achievements and successful careers. LaTasha is not only committed to education but is also a true pillar in her community and church, consistently giving her time, energy, and leadership to uplift others. She balances a busy professional schedule while still investing in relationships that help students and families thrive, demonstrating her belief that education does not end at the school doors.”
Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University. She has been an educator for 18 years, the last two 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.
Like this:
Like Loading...
In observance of Christmas Eve and Christmas, the Michigan Lottery headquarters in Lansing and all Lottery regional offices located in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Saginaw, and Sterling Heights will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 24 and 25.
You must be logged in to post a comment.