Two West Michigan Teachers Receive National Recognition

11 teachers from nine states are being recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award. Two West Michigan teachers are among those being honored this year.

Every year, National Heritage Academies (NHA) recognizes outstanding teachers from across the country with the Excellence in Teaching Award. NHA has a network of 89 public charter schools in nine states with more than 60,000 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade. The winning teachers are selected from among those schools.

Teachers are selected for recognition in 11 categories including by grade (kindergarten through eighth-grade), specials, specialists, and paraprofessionals. Finalists are chosen based on personal evaluations, parent satisfaction, academic scores and other criteria.

West Michigan is well-represented with two winners:

• Cindy Beukema, resource room teacher at River City Scholars Charter Academy in Grand Rapids.
• Aarika Thomas, seventh- through eighth-grade teacher at Vanguard Charter Academy in Wyoming.

The winners receive prizes and a plaque, plus a $1,000 gift card for classroom supplies.