This week’s Michigan Lottery Excellence in Education winner is Antoneta Gjolaj. We have a video from your nominator, let’s take a look.
Gjolaj’s nominee, her son, said: “I nominated my mom for this award because I really think she shows her teaching between me and her students, all the heart and soul she puts into teaching every single day.”
On the road to being a teacher, Gjolaj had a diverse educational experience.
“I come from Montenegro. I’m an Albanian,” she said. “I started college right when there was a war in Kosovo, so when I moved to U.S. I wanted to be able to connect with kids who maybe have the same background as me, or at least similar background. Because when you have that connection with your students, they create that comfort zone that someone else walked those shoes.
Gjolaj from R. Grant Graham Elementary receives a 2,000 dollar check from Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli, Excellence in Education Awards, sponsored by the Michigan Lottery, providing more than 29 billion dollars to public education since 1972.