 Issue 75 | February 2026
Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.
Please see the archived newsletters for other important information that affects licensure.
First Renewal of the Year!
Congratulations to Ronda Brodsky for being the first educator to renew a Michigan teaching certificate in 2026! Ronda teaches Strength and Conditioning, Health, and Unified Sports at Hazel Park High School and renewed her Professional Teaching Certificate just after midnight on January 1. Please remember to renew your certification before the June 30 deadline.
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First Spousal Renewals of the Year!
Minutes after Ronda renewed her certificate, Jennifer and Craig Barker renewed their certificates together, becoming the first spousal renewals of 2026! Jennifer Barker is a Math Interventionist at Milan Middle School. Craig Barker is an AP U.S. History teacher at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Livonia. Fun fact: Both Jennifer and Craig teach in the buildings where they attended high school. This is year 25 for both Jennifer and Craig, who have been married since 2009. They have one son, Franklin, who is currently a freshman at Milan High School.
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2026 Education Workforce Job Fair Registration is Open
The 2026 Education Workforce Job Fairs, held virtually, are open to employers of educators and all individuals seeking to work in the education field. The fairs will leverage the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity's expertise in hosting virtual job fairs to ensure a robust experience for both employers and job seekers. The job fairs will use Radancy, an engaging and easy-to-use online platform that allows participants to interact seamlessly throughout the interview process.
The job fairs will take place on:
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026
For further information and to register, job seekers and employers should visit the Education Workforce Job Fairs webpage.
For information on how to become a certified educator in Michigan, please visit the Educator Certification webpage.
Federal Loan Forgiveness
If you’re employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, including Michigan’s PK-12 schools, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The PSLF Program offers eligibility for forgiveness of Direct Loans. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) provides a list of Michigan’s critical shortage areas to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) to support this program.
Teacher Appreciation Video Project
National Teachers’ Day is May 5, and Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4 – May 8, 2026. Recognizing Michigan's hardworking and dedicated educators is an important piece of MDE's strategic initiative. For that reason, we will be celebrating Michigan’s educators during the entire month of May.
MDE invites students to submit a digital video to recognize and thank a specific educator for their impact. If the student prefers not to appear on camera, please feel free to submit a video showcasing their drawing, accompanied by a voice-over explanation.
Full instructions for submitting videos of appreciation for Michigan’s educators are available on the Teacher Appreciation Month webpage.
Submitted videos may be posted on the Teacher Appreciation Month webpage and the MDE YouTube channel. Additionally, social media pages throughout the month of May will be promoting the videos via the Office of Educator Excellence's Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Check us out: @MIeducator.
If you have a child with great things to say about an educator, don’t hesitate use the instructions found on our webpage to submit a video today!
Apply for NASDTEC’s New Educator Ethics Honor
The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), in partnership with the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics (NCAEE), is now accepting applications for the newly established Advancement and Commitment to Educator Ethics Recognition. This honor celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to Michigan educator ethics and professional decision-making at an organizational, statewide, and/or national level. Recipients will be recognized at NASDTEC’s 97th Annual Conference in June, with their stories featured on the NCAEE website.
Applications are due March 1, 2026. Learn more and access the application worksheet at the NCAEE website.
Applications Now Open for FY26 Grow Your Own/Educator Development (27b) Grant
$70 million has been allocated for Grow Your Own (GYO) funding under MCL 388.1627b for this fiscal year. The statutory language has been updated, and the grant is now titled "Grow Your Own/Educator Development (27b)," with eligibility organized into three tiers. The grant application is now available on NexSys.
Eligibility requirements and technical assistance documents for the application are available on the GYO School Staff webpage. The application window closes on Tuesday, March 3, at 5:00 p.m.
As always, direct all questions to the GYO Team at MDE-EdWorkforceGrants@Michigan.gov.
Apply Now! Michigan Teachers Can Earn Grant Awards for National Board Certification
The National Board Recognized Achievement Grant (27m) is available for eligible teachers who hold National Board Certification. Teachers who currently hold National Board Certification at the time of application may be eligible to participate regardless of whether they have received awards in previous rounds. National Board Certification is a high-quality professional development program that elevates educator standards to improve learning outcomes for students.
The application window is open from January 14 to February 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Teachers are encouraged to communicate with their districts. Local education agencies (both traditional public school districts and public school academies) and intermediate school districts must apply on behalf of eligible teachers.
Full details regarding the third round of the National Board Recognized Achievement Grant (27m) and eligibility requirements can be found on the Michigan Department of Education National Board Certification Grant Opportunities webpage.
Please direct questions regarding the grant to MDE-EdWorkforceGrants@Michigan.gov.
Now Accepting Applications! Future Proud Michigan Educator (FPME) Military Veterans Grant
Between Friday, February 6, 2026, and Friday, March 20, 2026, MDE will accept applications for the 2025-2026 (FY26) FPME Military Veterans Grant. Please note that this year, applications will be accepted during a fixed window instead of on a rolling basis—so don’t delay in applying.
This grant can be used to provide a salary for a qualifying military veteran for up to two semesters of student teaching and cover additional costs or fees associated with seeking a teaching certificate. For more information on eligibility requirements, application instructions, and what the grant can pay for, please visit the Future PME Military Veterans webpage.
CTE Month Resources Page
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) would like to invite all K-12 educators across Michigan to promote and showcase state-approved secondary CTE programs to local communities in February. CTE provides opportunities for students to explore careers, gain academic and technical skills, and find a path to a career about which they are passionate. Several resources are being created to help local schools, educators, students, and communities celebrate CTE Month.
Talent Pool
The Michigan Talent Pool is a group of elementary and secondary educators nominated by their supervisors that the Michigan Department of Education draws upon throughout the year when opportunities for engagement and recognition become available.
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We welcome recommendations of outstanding classroom teachers and/or principals who exhibit strong potential for professional leadership, and demonstrate the following:
- Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
- Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom;
- Contributions to education that are largely unheralded, yet are worthy of the spotlight; and
- An engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues, and the community.
Recommendations to the Talent Pool should be submitted by the nominee's supervisor and can be made via the online recommendation form. The nomination form includes a one-page letter of recommendation explaining how the nominee meets the above criteria. Please note that these recommendations are confidential and should not be discussed with the recommended educator or others in your school or community.
Please direct any questions to Jennifer Robel at RobelJ@Michigan.gov.
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