Awards for Human Rights & Excellence
MEA’s Awards for Human Rights & Excellence are awarded annually at our Winter Conference. Nominations are accepted Oct. 1–Nov. 30 of the previous year.
These awards are bestowed in even years:
- David McMahon Human Rights Award
- Maurine Wyatt Feminist and Gender Equity Award
- Educational Excellence Award
- Gerry Crane Human and Civil Rights Award
These awards are bestowed in odd years:
- Instructional Excellence for Diverse Learners Award
- Instructional Excellence
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award
- Distinguished Servant of Public Education Award
Nominating individuals or groups must be MEA members. If the nominee to be considered is an MEA member, the person must be in good standing.
Additional information and a nomination form will be posted.
Educational Excellence Award
Committed to educational excellence and concern for improvement of student-focused education. This award honors individuals committed to educational excellence and concern for improvement of student-focused education. The nominee should have demonstrated commitment to educational excellence and a concern for the improvement of student-focused education.
Daniel Clason
Daniel Clason is the recipient of the 2026 MEA Educational Excellence Award for his instructional leadership and creativity as an eighth and ninth-grade history teacher at Clarkston Junior High. Accepting the honor at the MEA Winter Conference, he thanked his students. “They give me that bigger purpose to know that I’m a part of something that’s bigger than me,” he said.
Daniel Clason drew inspiration from a Mississippi blues museum for the centerpiece of his project‑based approach to teaching history: traveling trunks filled with American Revolution artifacts created by eighth graders as hands‑on learning tools for fifth graders.
Clason is the recipient of the 2026 MEA Educational Excellence Award for his instructional leadership and creativity as a teacher at Clarkston Junior High. Other projects he helps to run include Constitution Fashion Shows and Civil War Town Hall debates.
“He leads his department, gives everything he has for his students, and works hard for our local,” said nominator Beth Rogers, a fifth‑grade teacher in the district and president of the local union. “We are beyond blessed to have him here in Clarkston.”
In his acceptance speech, Clason said public education is his greatest passion. “I would urge anyone who is seeking excellence to remember that the only real excellence there is to pursue in this field is for students, for our future, for our democracy, for all of those things.”
David McMahon Human Rights Award
Outside individual or group accepting the challenge of more and ethical leadership in the field of human and civil rights. This award recognizes individuals or groups outside the MEA which distinguish themselves by courageously accepting the challenge of moral and ethical leadership in the field of human and civil rights. David McMahon, as a teacher-leader, a MEA Board member, and as a MEA President, acted on his beliefs and initiated policies that resulted in an organizational commitment to protecting and enhancing the human and civil rights of all MEA members.
Kathy Kosobud
In her acceptance speech, Kathleen Kosobud said she has always felt the need to challenge the status quo when she sees injustice. “My retirement plan is to continue working with youth-serving organizations to get out the vote and encourage civic awareness,” she said.
Kathy Kosobud initially set out toward a career in theater design, but she shifted to education after college and applied her skill in manual arts to pre‑vocational settings for children with disabilities, spending many years as a special education teacher in Ann Arbor.
Following a long career advocating for fairness and creating access to opportunities for marginalized children, after earning a doctorate and becoming a national board certified teacher and consultant, Kosobud turned to political action in retirement.
For lifelong commitment, Kosobud received MEA’s 2026 David McMahon Human Rights Award. Starting with a letter to the editor as a high schooler in 1968, up to recent work supporting transgender youth, she never wavered, said nominator Barb Schram, president of MEA‑Retired.
Kosobud said she will continue helping to fight discrimination and get out the vote. “I’m humbled to be given this award,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It’s a reminder that retirement is another opportunity to help support the public and public education today.”
Maurine Wyatt Feminist and Gender Equity Award
Committed to feminism and human and civil rights for all people and committed to the development of a project, program or study that promotes the value and talents of women. This award honors educators, female and male, who exhibit a high degree of commitment in their professional and personal lives to human and civil rights. The work must contribute to gender equity in education and must be adaptable to the classroom.
Wendy Winston
In accepting MEA’s 2026 Maurine Wyatt Feminist and Gender Equity Award, Wendy Winston called on education professionals to unite and fight collectively for students and the profession: “No one is showing up to save us. We are the saviors of our democracy.”
Wendy Winston worked to resolve a pay disparity when she discovered a male and female teacher with identical resumes being paid differently. She cites the example to say why the intersectional fight for gender equity and human rights must go on.
In accepting MEA’s 2026 Maurine Wyatt Feminist and Gender Equity Award, Winston called on education professionals to unite and fight collectively for students and the profession. “No one is showing up to save us. We are the saviors of our democracy.”
A 20‑year math teacher in Grand Rapids, Winston’s long resume includes advocating for students as chair of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI‑STEM Advisory Council and serving in numerous union roles, including her local’s executive board, Region 9 vice president, MEA PAC leader, and NEA director, among others.
“Wendy is a relentless advocate whose efforts ensure the voices of teachers, students, and communities are heard at every level — from the classroom to the halls of Congress,” said nominator Jeff Pietrowski, a teacher in Grandville.
Gerry Crane Human and Civil Rights Award
Committed to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ students and members. This award honors our members who are standing up and providing brave spaces for our LGBTQ+ students and members. Gerry Crane was a compassionate educator from Byron Center, Michigan, who promoted diversity, equity and inclusion, while being forced to resign from his teaching position.
Frank Burger
More than 25 years ago, Burger started the Safe Space program at Carman-Ainsworth Middle School to identify places where all students could go to find acceptance. Burger credited his family, his union, and school administration for supporting his work in the face of increasing attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. He also cited Crane, a gay educator who was bullied out of his job as a music teacher in 1996 and died a year later. “His story is what inspires me to do the work that I do, because I don’t want anybody to feel unsafe in school, whether it’s our students or our members,” Burger said in his acceptance speech. “We will never be erased, ever.”
Frank Burger, a longtime advocate for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ staff and students, became the first recipient of MEA’s new Gerry Crane Human and Civil Rights Award, named after a west Michigan teacher whose tragic story inspired others to action.
“Students, staff and community members have all benefited from activities and speakers he organized and his sharing of knowledge on how to best provide education, awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people,” nominator Sandra Canood said.
Burger credited his family, his union, and school administration for supporting his advocacy in the face of increasing attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. He also cited Crane, a gay educator who was bullied out of his job as a music teacher in 1996 and died a year later.
“His story is what inspires me to do the work that I do, because I don’t want anybody to feel unsafe in school, whether it’s our students or our members,” Burger said in his acceptance speech. “We will never be erased, ever.”
Instructional Excellence for Diverse Learners Award
Recognizes an educator or support professional who demonstrates outstanding skill in meeting the unique needs of diverse learners, ensuring measurable student growth and success for all. This individual demonstrates exceptional skill in teaching and/or provides ancillary support to students with Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs), 504s, English Language Learners, or any other specialized program. As a result of their work, outstanding student outcomes measured in proficiency or growth are clearly observed. Eligible winners come from the ranks of anyone who services a student in special education: para educators, teachers, higher education instructors/professors and include all ancillary support members in counseling, social workers, speech and language teachers/therapists.
2025 Instructional Excellence for Diverse Learners Award: Jamie Hitt
A mid-career math teacher at Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, Jamie Hitt co-created and leads the school’s peer-to-peer program — an elective course that brings together general education students and students with special needs to build leadership, empathy and collaboration.
Winning a statewide award of excellence brought out many feelings, she said in her acceptance speech at the MEA Winter Conference: “Excitement, pure joy, disbelief—and it wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of imposter syndrome as well.
“I would like to thank my students, past and present. You continue to inspire me, make me laugh, and encourage me to be my favorite version of myself every single day.”
Hitt said she’s witnessed both students with special needs and general education students improve their grades and school attendance through her program.
“Several of our students have taken peer-to-peer to a whole new level, and they have extended their friendships to welcome each other into their friend groups, attend school dances and sporting events together,” Hitt said. “Additionally, quite a few of our former peer-to-peer students keep in touch after high school graduation.”
In addition to social and academic support for students with special needs, Hitt’s peer-to-peer class provides invaluable lessons on leadership, empathy and collaboration for general education students.
She has built lasting bonds with both special education and general education students, as well as their parents, which has led to an ever-increasing interest in the peer-to-peer class among students.
“I cannot think of anyone who is more dedicated to the dignity and inclusion of all students in our school community,” said Stephanie Givinsky, also a teacher at Lakeview High School, who nominated Hitt for the award.
“One of the reasons this program was approved by our administration is because Jamie is the one who proposed it,” Givinsky added. “The reason teachers and parents are willing to participate is because Jamie runs it with such integrity and skill. The reason students sign up for the program is because Jamie is a fair, caring, and expert teacher.”
Instructional Excellence Award
Honors an educator whose exceptional teaching results in significant student achievement and growth through dedication, innovation, and instructional mastery. This individual demonstrates exceptional skill in teaching and has outstanding student outcomes measured in proficiency or growth. Eligible winners come from the ranks of para educators, PK-12 teachers, higher education instructors/professors.
2025 Instructional Excellence Award: Nicki Strach
A veteran paraeducator in Reed City and vice president of her local union, Nicki Strach has worked to implement innovative literacy programs while making sure everyone — regardless of behavioral or academic challenges — feels understood, valued and nurtured.
For the last five years, Strach’s primary focus has been on emerging students at G.T. Norman Elementary School, helping them develop crucial reading skills that will serve them for a lifetime. She has continued to meet the individual needs of her students, all while managing a workload of 40 students at a time.
“Every year my students amaze me with the progress that they make to become better readers, especially with some of the little blocks that we know all of these kids face,” Strach said. “The best part of my job is the relationships I have formed with them, and I will cherish that forever.”
For Strach, a student she taught her first year perhaps made the biggest impact on her career. The student moved to the Reed City district as an upper elementary student, but was only reading at kindergarten level.
“We worked together in a small group for 30 minutes a day, four days a week on decoding, phonics skills and sight words,” Strach recalled. “In just five months they jumped from a level 1 to a level 12. What impressed me the most was the drive and persistence they had to keep trying and wanting to learn.”
Strach’s commitment to her students is truly remarkable, according to Amber White, a fellow paraeducator at G.T. Norman Elementary who nominated Strach for the award.
“She exemplifies the ability to multi-task while providing personalized support to each child,” White said. “This honor reflects her unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and effective learning environment, proving that dedication in education can lead to transformative outcomes for students.”
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award
Celebrates an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating meaningful change for underrepresented students and communities. This individual demonstrates exceptional work advocating for diversity, equity, & inclusion for students in PK-16 public schools and has created or supported a system that had a positive impact on all under represented populations.
2025 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award: Kaitie Paynich
Spanish teacher Kaitie Paynich has helped students at Portage Northern High School feel safe and nurtured through her efforts to strengthen the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club and create a gender-affirming closet and free store open to all. Paynich was chosen to lead the program when it re-started in 2016.
“It was super-heartwarming to see our students advocate for a safe space for themselves and also to see the huge number of staff members who showed up to volunteer,” Paynich recalled. “We had five staff members willing to be the advisor and ultimately, I was chosen to be the lead since I am one of two queer educators in our building.”
In 2022, Paynich and her students applied for, and received, a $10,000 It Gets Better Grant to implement a gender-affirming closet in their school. The grant for Portage Northern was one of just 50 awarded to schools nationwide to help schools improve inclusivity of LGBTQ+ students.
The idea was initially met with great resistance among some in her school community. In response, she helped shift the language of her grant proposal to offer gender-affirming clothing and supplies as part of a larger resource that her building now calls the “Free Store.”
“The students and I worked to transform the original idea into something even more powerful,” she explained. “We now have a Free Store for the entire community.”
Sarah Nott, a teacher at Portage Northern High School who nominated Paynich for the award, said she regularly sends students to the free store who are in need of clothing and hygiene products and otherwise might fall through the cracks.
“With this adjustment in the direction of her grant, she was able to retain funding for our GSA to complete this amazing project, and her work for inclusivity ended up benefiting not just one demographic but several,” Nott said.
Distinguished Servant of Public Education Award
Acknowledges an educator or advocate whose steadfast commitment to public education is reflected through activism, political engagement, and community advocacy that strengthens schools and supports all learners. This individual positively promotes public education through union activity, political action, and/or community advocacy. Eligible winners come from the ranks of ESP, PK-12 teachers, or higher education.
2025 Distinguished Servant of Public Education Award: Brenda Massie
A 40-year educator, Brenda Massie has worked for 20 years in Ludington schools where she teaches fifth and sixth grade, supervises the Safety Patrol program, and leads after-school math programs — all in addition to serving as the local union’s chief negotiator and grievance chair since 2010.
“My first job is to teach and develop the students sitting in front of me each day,” Massie explained. “I truly believe if I didn’t give that piece a 100% of my effort, I shouldn’t be taking on any extra duties.”
Massie’s commitment to the Ludington community itself is remarkable. She was a founding board member and later director of West Shore Family Support. In this role, she helped families navigate unique situations to help prepare their children to become successful in the classroom and beyond.
Massie has successfully negotiated 14 contracts for her local union, including recovering steps and a raise from prior years they were frozen.
She, along with former superintendent Jason Kennedy, played a pivotal role in her district securing much-needed federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve Ludington students and families. She worked with Kennedy to secure a Continuity of Learning Agreement during the pandemic.
The agreement helped students and staff navigate through unusual circumstances with teaching and learning, said Andrea Knowles, a first grade teacher in Ludington who nominated Massie for the award.
“She bargained for members to remain financially whole while also ensuring that students received the highest-quality education possible,” Knowles said.
In her acceptance speech at the MEA Winter Conference, Massie thanked educators in the audience for all the work they do.
“I’m just really humbled to stand here when I know that everyone in this room is a servant,” she said. “You wouldn’t be in this profession—you wouldn’t do all you do—if you didn’t have a servant’s heart. And so I thank all of you for all the service you give.”