Michigan Teachers Earn $822,000 in Grants for Achieving National Board Certification

LANSING – More than 129 teachers in 41 school districts are receiving $822,000 in grants from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for earning National Board Certification, an achievement that will benefit their students.

“Teachers around Michigan are putting Students First by gaining National Board Certification,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “These grants reward educators who are dedicated to their profession and to students.”

Districts and intermediate school districts applied on behalf of 129 Michigan teachers with the certification. Teachers receive grants of at least $4,000, with a $10,000 grant if they work for a high-poverty school that receives building-wide federal Title 1 funding.

The goal of the National Board Recognized Achievement grant program, funded under a section of the State School Aid Act, is to acknowledge the professional learning, growth, and achievement of Michigan teachers who have obtained National Board Certification. By promoting recognition and retention of teachers, this grant supports Goal 7 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, to increase the number of certified teachers in areas of shortage.

The National Board-certified teachers receiving the grants work in the following districts, with the amount in grants received by district and the number of teachers awarded grants shown: 

• Ann Arbor Public Schools, $24,000, 3
• Armada Area Schools, $20,000, 5
• Beaver Island Community School, $4,000, 1
• Benzie County Central Schools, $8,000, 2
• Berkley Schools, $4,000, 1
• Big Rapids Public Schools, $10,000, 1
• Bloomfield Hills Schools, $4,000, 1
• Cedar Springs Public Schools, $8,000, 2
• Crestwood School District, $10,000, 1
• Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences, $10,000, 1
• Detroit Achievement Academy, $8,000, 2
• Detroit Public Schools Community District, $180,000, 18
• Farmington Public Schools, $14,000, 2
• Fennville Public Schools, $4,000, 1
• Forest Hills Public Schools, $4,000, 1
• Gull Lake Community Schools, $4,000, 1
• Haslett Public Schools, $28,000, 7
• Houghton Lake Community Schools, $4,000, 1
• Kalamazoo Public Schools, $22,000, 4
• Kentwood Public Schools, $58,000, 7
• Lake Orion Community Schools, $4,000, 1
• Lansing School District, $80,000, 8
• Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, $4,000, 1
• Novi Community School District, $24,000, 6
• Okemos Public Schools, $4,000, 1
• Plainwell Community Schools, $8,000, 2
• Rochester Community Schools, $84,000, 21
• Royal Oak Schools, $4,000, 1
• Saginaw Public Schools, $42,000, 6
• Saugatuck Public Schools, $4,000, 1
• South Redford School District, $4,000, 1
• Southfield Public Schools, $4,000, 1
• Traverse City Area Public Schools, $20,000, 2
• Troy School District, $8,000, 2
• University Preparatory Academy (in Detroit), $40,000, 4
• University Preparatory Science and Math (in Detroit), $10,000, 1
• Washtenaw Technical Middle College, $12,000, 3
• Watervliet Public Schools, $20,000, 2
• West Bloomfield School District, $4,000, 1
• Williamston Community Schools, $4,000, 1
• Ypsilanti Community Schools, $10,00, 1

Anyone interested in learning more about National Board Certification are encouraged to visit the MDE National Board Certification webpage. For information regarding previous awards, visit the 27m Recognized Achievement Grant Awards webpage.

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