Michelle Spisz earns 'Teacher of the Year' title from American Legion

Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily
Updated ·2 min read
Fowlerville Junior High School Teacher Michelle Spisz, center, is named Teacher of the Year on Saturday, July 22, 2023. She is pictured with former commander Bobby Brite and current American Legion Post 141 Commander Mark Epley.
Fowlerville Junior High School Teacher Michelle Spisz, center, is named Teacher of the Year on Saturday, July 22, 2023. She is pictured with former commander Bobby Brite and current American Legion Post 141 Commander Mark Epley.

FOWLERVILLE — Eighth grade science and yearbook teacher Michelle Spisz of Fowlerville Junior High School has been named the Department of Michigan Teacher of the Year by the American Legion Educational Scholarship Committee.

"I feel like I'm standing on the shoulders of giants," Spisz told The Daily. "I have the utmost respect for all that serve and I'm a proud daughter and granddaughter and great-niece of veterans. It's incredibly humbling and I'm very honored. It means a lot to me."

Spisz received a $500 grant and a recognition plaque presented by a state commander.

"I haven't quite decided yet what to do with that. That's a tremendous amount of money to an educator. It's really exciting," Spisz said.

Nominations for the award are based on competence, community involvement, and school involvement in patriotism and community service programs.

"We're very, very proud of her," said Fowlerville Community Schools Superintendent Matt Stuard during a school board meeting Tuesday, July 18.

Spisz is entering her 17th year of teaching in Fowlerville.

"I think one of the reasons a lot of people go into teaching is to build a legacy and to just inspire youth," she said. "To get to the point of receiving an award like this from the people that I think matter ... if veterans didn't do what they did, if soldiers didn't do what they did, I wouldn't be able to do what I do in the classroom."

Fowlerville Junior High School Teacher Michelle Spisz, center, is named Teacher of the Year on Saturday, July 22, 2023. She is pictured with her husband, Jon, and sons Lorenzo and Justice.
Fowlerville Junior High School Teacher Michelle Spisz, center, is named Teacher of the Year on Saturday, July 22, 2023. She is pictured with her husband, Jon, and sons Lorenzo and Justice.

Spisz is a member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary. According to Spisz, each year, American Legion Devereaux Post 141 in Howell recognizes five different public servants, including Citizen of the Year and Teacher of the Year.

Just last year, Spisz presented Teacher of the Year. She was asked to present again this year, not realizing she was the awardee.

"I look up and Mr. (Bob) Hinton is being called up, who's a member of our school board and also a veteran and a member of the Legion," she said. "And the next thing I know, they flipped the script on me and I was completely speechless."

Spisz received a Special Congressional Recognition from U.S Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing.

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"I still don't feel like my feet have touched the ground since Saturday," Spisz said. "They presented me with a beautiful certificate with the congressional seal on it and a beautiful folder, so that was a surprise.

"It was really, really lovely. It was awesome. It was a great day."

— Contact reporter Patricia Alvord at palvord@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Michelle Spisz earns 'Teacher of the Year' title from American Legion