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Educationally Speaking

Issue 61 | December 2024
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*Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the **Michigan Online Educator Certification System* [ [link removed] ]* to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.*

**Please see the *archived newsletters [ [link removed] ]* for other important information that affects licensure.**

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Noteworthy News
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Welcome Home Proud Michigan Educator
Returning Home for the Holidays

At the end of every year, the holiday season is the perfect occasion to make memories with the people you care about most. Connecting with friends, family, and loved ones makes our hearts full and inspires us to give. As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves gathering with those we hold dear and who have moved away.

Wishing your loved one a “Welcome Home” is a great way to spread joy and support Michigan schools. For more information about a special program supporting the renewal of a Michigan teaching certificate after teaching in another state, please visit the Welcome Home Proud Michigan Educator webpage [ [link removed] ].  



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*Recertification Season is Near!*

*Schools/Districts *

‘Tis the season to review educator credentials! Schools/districts should begin the annual review of staff credentials for 2025. Remind educators with a credential expiring June 30, 2025, to log into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS [ [link removed] ]) to review and update their account information. Certificates can be renewed beginning January 1 without any loss of validity! Remember, districts can face costly State Aid deductions for employing educators without appropriate credentials. 

*Educators *

Work with your employer to ensure you are ready for the 2025-26 academic year! Log into MOECS [ [link removed] ] to check the status of your credential and review your professional learning to proactively prevent an accidental lapse in certification. While there is no state-issued or legal penalty to an educator for a lapsed credential, educators are responsible for maintaining valid Michigan credentials [ [link removed] ] for employment and may face district contract issues for lapses.

If you are employed by a Michigan school, attending the District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) that is legally required to be offered should provide you with the necessary hours of Education-Related Professional Learning (ERPL) needed to recertify. Beginning July 1, 2020, that DPPD was required to be reported for you as State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH) and will appear in your MOECS account once you complete the evaluation. College credit, SCECHs, and DPPD obtained prior to July 1, 2020, can all be used as ERPL.

View all the options for renewal on our Education Related Professional Learning webpage [ [link removed] ]!

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Grants Information Section Header
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27m National Board Recognized Achievement Grant - Round 2

The grant application for the second round of the 27m National Board Recognized Achievement grant, pursuant to Section 27m [ [link removed] ] of the State School Aid Act, will open mid-January 2025. This grant will be awarded to local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, and intermediate school districts to award *eligible teachers who hold National Board Certification at the time of application.*

Please regularly visit the National Board Certification Grant Opportunities webpage [ [link removed] ] for information.

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#proudMIeducator
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The #proudMIeducator video [ [link removed] ] released in December features Nikki DeGowske, a fifth-grade teacher at Algonquin Elementary School in Algonac, located in Michigan’s Thumb. Ms. DeGowske, her students, and the community have worked hard to transform an overgrown and unused outdoor space into a robust, magical outdoor learning environment with a pond for research, a walking trail, and benches for outdoor classroom learning.

A complete playlist of our #proudMIeducator videos can be found at #proudMIeducator - YouTube [ [link removed] ].

We are interested in your ideas for #pme videos! If you have an idea or suggestion, please email Jennifer Robel at [email protected]. 

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*2025 Education Workforce Virtual Job Fairs*

The 2025 virtual job fairs are open to employers of educators and all individuals seeking to work in the education field. They will leverage the Radancy [ [link removed] ] (formerly Brazen) platform, which features increased functionality and ease of use. 

The job fairs will take place on:

*Wednesday, March 12, 2025*

*Wednesday, May 14, 2025 *

For further information and to register, job seekers and employers should visit the Education Workforce Job Fairs webpage [ [link removed] ].

For information on how to become a certified educator in Michigan, please visit the Educator Certification webpage [ [link removed] ]. 

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*Michigan Teacher of the Year/Regional Teachers of the Year*

The 2023-2024 Regional Teachers of the Year are:


* *Region 1:* Michael Powers, a social studies teacher at Manistique Middle/High School in Manistique Area Schools.
* *Region 2: *Molly Dunham, a third-grade teacher at Kingsley Elementary School in Kingsley Area Schools.
* *Region 3: *Kristen Ritter, a mathematics teacher at Greenville High School in Greenville Public Schools.
* *Region 4: *Laura Baker, an English teacher at Shepherd High School in Shepherd Public Schools.
* *Region 5: *Sasha Wakefield, a mathematics teacher at Clio High School in Clio Area Schools.
* *Region 6:* Cassandra Eberhardt, a social studies teacher at Williamston Middle School in Williamston Community Schools.
* *Region 7: *Melissa Frost, a science teacher at Buchanan High School in Buchanan Community Schools.
* *Region 8: *Kristina Dennis, a third-grade teacher at Onsted Elementary School in Onsted Community Schools.
* *Region 9 and Michigan Teacher of the Year: *Kelley Cusmano, an English Language Arts teacher at Rochester High School in Rochester Community Schools.
* *Region 10: *Calvin Nellum, a science teacher at Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences.

If you would like to invite the Michigan Teacher of the Year or a Regional Teacher of the Year to give a keynote speech, or presentation, or visit your school or district, please fill out the *"Speaker Request Form"* at the bottom of the Michigan Teacher of the Year webpage [ [link removed] ].

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Teacher Discounts [ [link removed] ]
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"Copyright © 2024 Office of Educator Excellence, All rights reserved."

Michigan Department of Education - Office of Educator Excellence
608 W. Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 241-5000 | [email protected]






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