MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Schoolcraft County educator has been named Regional Teacher of the Year.
“Over my long journey, I’ve found students to be fantastic, and that’s where the energy comes from,” said Michael Powers, a social studies teacher at Manistique Middle & High School. “The energy comes from the students.”
Powers has been teaching at Manistique Area Schools for 43 years.
“It seems like it has gone so quickly,” he said. “Teaching is very rewarding. The joy is in the journey.”
For Powers, every year has been a privilege, with each class providing new opportunities.
“I super enjoy working with students, and the relationships that you have with students are phenomenal,” he said. “Every student is an individual and so every day, challenges come up. I’ve never wanted to leave teaching.”
Powers was nominated for Regional Teacher of the Year by his principal.
“After that, you have to send in letters of recommendation and answer a few prompts,” he said of the process. “I found out another teacher from Manistique Area Schools also made it to the next round. Then we did more prompts and a phone interview.”
In the end, it was Powers who received the call that he had been named 2024 – 2025 Regional Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Department of Education.
“I think it is a great honor, definitely,” he said. “It’s a celebration of teaching.”
On Wednesday, April 17, all ten Regional Teachers of the Year will meet in Lansing in hopes of earning the title of Michigan Teacher of the Year.
“We’ll make presentations to a committee,” Powers explained. “They’re quite lengthy presentations. I’m the first presentation at 9:00, and they will select from us the Michigan Teacher of the Year.”
Powers says he has been blessed by the outpouring of support he has received from his fellow staff members and his students. He is honored to represent Manistique, the Upper Peninsula, and dedicated educators everywhere in Lansing.
“Teaching is so important in our society,” said Powers. “I think it is the most important job, so I was excited about celebrating teaching and teachers, and also to brag a little bit about Manistique Area Schools. I really think we have one of the best schools and the best staffs around.”
Click here to see the full list of Teacher of the Year finalists.
