Michigan Teacher
of the Year

Congratulations to Kelley Cusmano

Learn About this Year’s Michigan Teacher of the Year

Meemic congratulates Kelley Cusmano, the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year. Candice is an English Language Arts teacher at Rochester High School and will be entering her 20th year of teaching in the fall.

“Kelley is passionate, nurturing, and relentless in her efforts to support our students,” said RHS principal Joshua Wrinkle. “Some of the most inspiring work that I’ve witnessed in education includes Kelley’s ability to encourage and support students who may be struggling, have disabilities or are not excited about the course work. She is always looking for ways to motivate her students to achieve more than they ever thought they could. She seeks ways to not only better her own instruction, but to also support her colleagues in their growth. The future of education is strong because of dedicated teachers like Kelley.”

Kelley will serve as an advocate for, and representative of, the more than 86,000 public school teachers statewide and engage in discussions on how best to continue to improve Michigan's education system as a non-voting member of the State Board of Education and a member of the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council. She is also the state’s candidate for the prestigious 2025 National Teacher of the Year honor. She is also part of the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Committee (MTLAC), comprising this year’s Regional Teacher of the Year cohort

Meet the 10 Michigan Regional Teachers of the Year.

Read more about Kelley Cusmano.

Nominate a Teacher

Excellence in teaching deserves to be recognized. Know of a great candidate for the Michigan Teacher of the Year or want to become one yourself? For the 2025-26 award, the nomination cycle will begin in September 2024. Find the online nomination form and other information at the Michigan Department of Education. Meemic has sponsored the Michigan Teacher of the Year award since 2007.

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