Since 1952, one of Michigan's outstanding teachers has been named our state's Teacher of the Year. The Michigan Teacher of the Year serves as a representative and advocate for Michigan's more than 85,000 teachers, working with 9 fellow Regional Teachers of the Year as the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC) to share feedback and input on educational policies and initiatives with MDE and propose ways to enhance student learning. Each Regional Teacher of the Year brings recognition to the district he or she represents and has expanded opportunities for professional development at the state level and additional opportunities to share their experience and expertise.
Each month, the Michigan Teacher of the Year attends State Board of Education meetings as a non-voting member of the board and presents on issues of importance to teachers across the state with one of the Regional Teachers of the Year. In addition to meeting with state legislative and educational leadership, the Michigan Teacher of the Year can meet national leaders and work with their fellow state teachers of the year from other U.S. states and territories through programming arranged by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the organization which coordinates the National Teacher of the Year program. Each year's Michigan Teacher of the Year is Michigan's applicant for National Teacher of the Year.
As part of the CCSSO's programming for state teachers of the year, the Michigan Teacher of the Year attends four national conferences, including Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The recipient of the Michigan Teacher of the Year award is eligible to participate in the Ricard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership program at Walden University through a scholarship opportunity.
Thank you to the Meemic Foundation for its continued sponsorship and support of the Michigan Teacher of the Year, the Regional Teachers of the Year and the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC).
Congratulations to 2025-26 Michigan Teacher of the Year: Corey Rosser of Quest High School, North Branch Area Public Schools
Corey Rosser is an alternative education teacher at Quest High School within North Branch Area Public Schools. In his 22nd year of teaching, all of which have been dedicated to Quest, Corey instructs Social Studies and Imagine Learning courses for students in grades 10 through 12. He has a long-standing commitment to education, having taught summer school in traditional settings for over two decades and providing virtual learning instruction for both traditional and alternative high school students in North Branch for the past 8 years. Corey is also an active member of the Michigan Alternative Education Organization, further demonstrating his dedication to alternative education practices.
