LEELANAU COUNTY — After working as an administrator for over 30 years – the Glen Lake Middle School Principal has been named the 2025 Michigan PreK-8 Principal of the Year.
Dina Rocheleau began working as the principal of Glen LAke C6 years ago, but has over 20 years of experience working as a principal.
She was initially hired as the secondary principal, grades 6-12, and currently serves as Middle School Principal for grades 6-8.
Dina was never told she was nominated for the award, until a banquet held last week by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association.
Dina said that a a friend if hers was giving a speech, adding “And after a while I was like, well, I’ve done that. I’ve done that. And then I recognized that he was talking about me. And people started looking at my way, knowing the work that I do. And I just started crying because I’m really good at crying. So it was a wonderful, wonderful surprise. ”
As Michigan’s Principal of the Year, Dina will represent the state as a National Distinguished Principal and will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in 2026.