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Michigan Teacher of the Year from Rochester Featured in Latest #proudMIeducator Video

LANSING – The latest #proudMIeducator video features Ms. Kelley Cusmano, the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced.

Cusmano is an English teacher at Rochester High School in Rochester Community Schools in Oakland County. 

In the video, Cusmano, who is in her 20th year of teaching, discusses the joy she feels from teaching both English and real-world leadership skills to her students, and how she strives to make each student feel important with each interaction. 

“I’d like to be able to elevate teaching back to where I think it should be placed, which is among one of the most highly valued professions,” Cusmano says in the video. She would like to be the kind of teacher that students remember as having made an impact on their lives by showing she cares and easing some of the fears they face. “Over the years I’ve realized just how much the little things that I don’t think make a difference really matter to a teenager,” she says.

“Ms. Cusmano’s energetic and innovative style of teaching both English and leadership skills benefits students academically and on a personal level,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “We appreciate teachers like Ms. Cusmano who intentionally support students through every interaction and encouraging word.”

Increasing the number of certified teachers, especially in areas of shortage, is one of the eight goals of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.

MDE’s efforts to address the teacher shortage and encourage more people to pursue a teaching career in Michigan include the MI Fellowship program that provides scholarships to future educators, stipends for student teachers, student loan repayments, tuition reimbursement for special education teachers, Future Proud Michigan Educator EXPLORE grants, Grow Your Own programs, Talent Together, expedited reciprocity for teachers and counselors certified in other states, and a rural credentialing hub.

Since 2016, the #proudMIeducator campaign has highlighted the amazing work of Michigan educators. The full playlist of videos can be found on the #proudMIeducator YouTube page. MDE hopes to inspire others to dedicate themselves to a career in education after hearing these stories. 

If you know a proud Michigan educator who should be considered for a future video feature, please email MDE-PME@Michigan.gov.

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