A Kalamazoo Central teacher has been named an Excellence in Education award winner by the Michigan Lottery.

Shannon Wintz is an English teacher at Kalamazoo Central High School. The Michigan Lottery setup the Excellence in Education awards in 2014 to "recognize outstanding public school educators across the state during the school year."

The Lottery's release says "Wintz said she chose a career in education because “education is in my blood” with a father and sister and other family members who were teachers."

“I wanted to be a teacher to ensure every student knows they have a purpose in this world. My favorite part of being a teacher is when a student discovers or uncovers an answer.  That ‘light bulb moment’ is so powerful.” - Shannon Wintz

(Pro-Tech Services. Used by permission and courtesy of Michigan Lottery)
(Pro-Tech Services. Used by permission and courtesy of Michigan Lottery)
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Wintz was nominated by a student's mother, saying

"she has the keen ability to care, love, and yet challenge her students at the same time.  She goes above and beyond in her classroom by making each student her top priority. Ms. Wintz could see he was going through something very difficult and reached out to him to talk through what was troubling him,” the nomination said. “Even though he would not share with me right away, he did share with Ms.Wintz and she was able to get through to him. He is now healthy and happy and well past that troubled time.  However, without her love and caring for him, I don’t know if I would be able to say that.  I thank her that I have the opportunity to see my son every day.”

 Wintz received her Bachelor's from WMU and has taught at Kalamazoo Central for nine years.

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