LANSING, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – A Calhoun County educator is the latest instructor who has been honored with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
Virginia Platek is a ninth grade English and AP language and composition teacher at Battle Creek Central High School.
The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence in Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.
Winners of the weekly award receive a plaque, a $1,500 cash prize, and a $500 grant to their classroom, school, or school district.
One of the weekly winners will be selected as the Educator of the Year and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.
Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner TV stations in Michigan.
Platek said she has always known she wanted to be a teacher and that her favorite activity to do with students is read Romeo and Juliet.
Her nomination cited her ability to make learning fun and interesting for her students.
“Platek earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and master’s degree from Grand Valley State University.
She has been an educator for nine years, the last in her current position.
