Brandon Bailey, a fifth-grade teacher at Forest View Elementary in Cadillac, has been awarded the prestigious Michigan Lottery Excellence in Education award. This honor recognizes his commitment to hands-on teaching and his ability to foster strong relationships with students. As part of the award, Bailey receives a cash prize of $2,000 and becomes eligible for the $10,000 Educator of the Year award, which will be announced at the conclusion of the academic year.
Bailey, who has dedicated 21 years to education—spending the last eight at Forest View—attributes his passion for teaching to his desire to instill a love of learning in his students. “I love to teach. I am passionate about it. I found it to be very rewarding to pass on the love of learning to someone else,” he stated. His approach emphasizes experiential learning, allowing students to engage actively with the material. “I wanted to put the learning in the hands of the students and watch them learn from the doing of whatever they are learning,” he added.
The nomination for the award came from Heidi Collins, a parent of a former student. She praised Bailey for his ability to build trust and support students both academically and emotionally. “Mr. Bailey, without a doubt, goes above and beyond helping students surpass their expectations academically, as well as positively impacting their character, social skills and emotional development,” Collins remarked.
Bailey expressed gratitude for the nomination, highlighting the meaningful connection he developed with Collins’ son, despite the student joining his class later in the school year. “We talked about fishing all the time. We talked about his activities—he’s into hockey. It resonated with his mom, so she nominated me,” he explained.
Recognition from School Administration
Forest View Elementary Principal Jake Wing acknowledged Bailey’s dedication and the significance of the recognition. “There are wins every day in classrooms that people don’t always see. So it’s nice for him to get this recognition,” Wing stated.
Superintendent Jennifer Brown of Cadillac Area Public Schools emphasized the impact Bailey has made on both student achievement and classroom culture. “The historic student growth achieved in his classroom is not accidental. It reflects a standard Brandon set for himself through hard work, intentional planning and a relentless focus on rigorous learning,” Brown noted. She added that Bailey’s commitment enhances not only Forest View Elementary but the entire district.
Bailey earned his bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College and a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. Beyond his teaching role, he also serves as the high school girls’ golf coach, further demonstrating his commitment to student development.
The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence in Education awards in 2014 to honor outstanding public school educators across the state. Nominees are evaluated based on criteria such as excellence, dedication, inspiration, leadership, and effectiveness in advancing student achievement, ensuring that remarkable educators like Bailey receive the recognition they deserve.
