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May 06, 2025
LANSING – Mr. Corey Rosser, a social studies teacher at Quest High School in Lapeer County’s North Branch Area Schools, is the 2025-26 Michigan Teacher of the Year.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice surprised the teacher in announcing the honor this morning during a visit to the alternative high school. Rosser had been led to believe he was going to be recognized for being a Regional Teacher of the Year, which was announced in February.
His students, colleagues, and family cheered when it was announced Rosser was the Michigan Teacher of the Year. Rosser redirected the attention toward students and other teachers. “I think you could throw a pebble down our hallway and probably find a teacher more deserving than me,” he said. “I work with so many amazing people here … Really, to me this is all about a culmination of what our students have been working toward. We’ve had 580 or so graduates over 20 years. Any teacher knows they all remember you. They create a really special place to learn and a really special place to teach.”
“The day that we have an opportunity to honor the new Michigan Teacher of the Year is one of my favorite days of the year,” Dr. Rice said. “The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) selects the Michigan Teacher of the Year not only to recognize an outstanding educator, but to select someone to represent the voice of our teachers, as MDE and the State Board of Education work with our partners to improve our schools.”
Since 1952, one of Michigan’s outstanding teachers has been named Michigan Teacher of the Year and has been offered opportunities to serve as an advocate for the teaching profession at the state level. The Michigan Teacher of the Year program is not about finding the “best teacher.” It is about celebrating an outstanding member of the teaching profession and giving Michigan teachers a voice at the state level.
Rosser’s selection comes after a months-long, multi-level competitive process that started with the nomination of 500 teachers in fall 2024. Rosser was named one of the state’s 10 Regional Teachers of the Year in February. Each of the 10 Regional Teachers then interviewed with a panel of statewide education stakeholders, where each presented a short professional development module and answered questions on topics relevant to issues faced by teachers today.
The Michigan Teacher of the Year announcement came during Teacher Appreciation Week.
“Corey Rosser typifies the many outstanding educators in the North Branch School District,” said Superintendent Jim Fish. “Our teachers recognize that students respond and learn better when they know you truly care about them as people. Corey is incredibly gifted at connecting with students who have struggled in a traditional program. The relationships he builds with students are instrumental in guiding them to believe in themselves and their future. I am extremely proud of Corey and all the teachers in North Branch Area Schools who dedicate themselves to helping our students learn and grow. Corey is a strong advocate for the award-winning Quest Program, which has received unwavering support through the years from the North Branch Board of Education, our high school principals, Corey’s colleagues, and our entire community.”
Rosser has worked at Quest High School since its inception in 2004. The small school has about 40 students.
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 eight years, Rosser has a long-standing commitment to education.
“We are so happy for Mr. Rosser and our students at Quest High School for this honor and recognition,” said Principal Doug Lindsay. “The success of Corey’s students is a testament to the relationships he has with them. His approach of truly getting to know them on an individual basis, understanding their goals and the challenges they have faced, is crucial to the program. From the outset of onboarding students joining the Quest program to graduation day, Mr. Rosser focuses on developing a relationship with his students and providing them the necessary support to achieve their goals. I would also like to add there is a strong correlation between Mr. Rosser’s efforts and the success of the Quest program and its students.”
Other attendees included State Board of Education members Ms. Tiffany Tilley, co-vice president, and Dr. Judith Pritchett, secretary.
Rosser has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Marygrove College.
The 10 Regional Teachers of the Year will work together during the upcoming school year as the 2025-26 Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council. During their year of service, group members work directly with MDE and other Michigan educational stakeholders to address issues facing the state’s education system to ensure that the voices of teachers are present in these discussions.
In addition to his work on the committee, Rosser will serve as an advocate for and representative of the more than 80,000 public school teachers statewide and will engage in discussions on how best to continue to improve Michigan's schools with a non-voting seat at the State Board of Education table every month and as a member of the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council. He is also the state’s candidate for the prestigious 2025 National Teacher of the Year honor.
To learn more about the Michigan Teacher of the Year program, the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council, and MDE’s other educator recognition efforts, visit MDE’s Recognition Programs webpage.
Expenses for the Michigan Teacher of the Year, as well as the Regional Teacher of the Year and Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council, are offset through the support of the Meemic Foundation.
“The Meemic Foundation congratulates Corey Rosser as the state’s newest Teacher of the Year, along with the other nine remarkable Regional Teachers of the Year,” said Pam R. Harlin, executive director of The Meemic Foundation. “Meemic is excited by the potential of these teacher leaders. This amazing group stands ready to ‘roll up their sleeves’ to represent Michigan teachers on key education issues.”
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