This week’s Michigan Lottery Excellence in Education winner is Ben Darin from Ada, Michigan, Forest Hills Public Schools.
“Not only is he a phenomenal teacher, he is an outstanding role model to those he leads,” his nominator said. “And if you ask us, a pretty terrific human being.”
“When I was in third grade, I had some medical things that happened, one of my bouts of cancer,” Darin said. “I was in and out of the classroom and my teacher at the time made it very easy for me to come and go and jump back in the class and just feel appreciated and loved. And I thought, you know, I’ve kind of got a knack for explaining things to other people. Why not make that my direction in life? I could be that resource for someone at some point in their life to sort of help give back.”
Ben from Forest Hills Eastern Middle School receives a $2,000 check from Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. Excellence in Education Awards sponsored by the Michigan Lottery, providing more than $29 billion to public education since 1972.