Warren educator earns prestigious Excellence in Education honor
Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli (right), presents Lumturje Shuti with her Excellence in Education check.
A Macomb County educator known for her passion and unwavering commitment to her students has been honored with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.
The award winner, Lumturje Shuti, is a lead Latchkey teacher at Pearl Lean Elementary School. The school is part of Warren Consolidated Schools.
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 $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.
Multi-faceted role
“Latchkey teachers aid in promoting students social, emotional, and intellectual development,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Mrs. Shuti is a passionate and dedicated educator whose kindness and warmth leaves an impact on her students and their families.
“She creates a safe and supportive environment which fosters growth and success in her students both before and after school.”
Shuti was attracted to a career in education because of her love for children.
“My love for children at a young age was a big reason why I wanted to be an educator. I was also fascinated with how teaching was portrayed on television and in movies. Teachers making a difference in the lives of the children they teach was very appealing to me.”
She exemplifies excellence
Shuti was nominated for the award by a family member.
“As a Latchkey Lead Teacher, Mrs. Shuti exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond for her students,” the nomination stated. “Her dedication, creativity, and compassionate heart make her a truly outstanding educator and role model in our community.
“Mrs. Shuti’s commitment to her students goes far beyond the classroom. She is known for often using her own resources to purchase supplies, materials, and even snacks to ensure her students have the tools they need to learn and thrive. Whether it’s providing craft supplies for an engaging art project or bringing in books to inspire a love of reading, Mrs. Shuti does so selflessly, always with her students’ best interests at heart.”
Shuti earned an associate’s degree from Macomb Community College. She has been an educator for 30 years, the last five in her current position.
