St. Clair County educator earns Excellence in Education award
Lottery Spokesman, Jake Harris, presents Michael Domagalski with his Excellence in Education check.
A St. Clair County educator who is known as a leader and a positive influence for students and staff has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, Michael Domagalski, is a principal at Palms Elementary School and East China Virtual Academy. Both schools are part of the East China School District.
The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence In Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.
Eligible for Educator of the Year award
Winners of the weekly award receive a $2,000 cash prize. At the end of the school year, one of the weekly award winners will be selected to receive the Lottery’s Educator of the Year award and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.
Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City.
Domagalski said his desire to have a positive influence on others attracted him to a career in education.
“I wanted to be an educator due to my strong desire to positively influence teachers, children, and the community,” he said. “I continually strive to help them grow academically, socially, emotionally as well as be engaged in their school.
Helping students gain confidence
“Ultimately, as it pertains to children or students, seeing them gain confidence or understand something new can be incredibly rewarding and knowing that I made an impact on them to become successful citizens of society is the ultimate reward.”
Domagalski was nominated for the award by the parent of a student.
“Mike Domagalski, known to the students of Palms Elementary as Mr. D, is an amazing principal,” the parent noted on the nomination form. “He welcomes each student at the front door and says goodbye to them every afternoon.
“Mr. D is present throughout the school in so many ways. He is seen assisting the teachers as needed and engaging with every student that goes past him with a friendly wave, a high five, or with words of encouragement.”
Domagalski earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University. He has been an educator for 22 years, the last 13 years as an elementary and secondary school principal.
