In recognition of her steadfast service and advocacy for Michigan’s students and educators, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was presented with and made the namesake of the Michigan Education Association’s inaugural “Gretchen Whitmer Champion for Education” award Saturday at MEA’s Representative Assembly in East Lansing.

“Every day in communities across Michigan, countless educators step up to help our kids get a great start, a quality education, and the skills they need for a good-paying job,” Gov. Whitmer said. “I ran for office to reverse decades of disinvestment in Michigan schools, and since day one, we’ve kept our promises. We closed the funding gap, helped more aspiring educators get in front of the classroom, and restored collective bargaining.

“In my last year, I’m building on this work with the Every Child Reads plan, the largest literacy investment in Michigan history that will provide more training in proven literacy methods for teachers across our state,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Thank you to the MEA for this wonderful award. Let’s keep working together to build a bright future for Michigan.”

During her two terms as governor, Gov. Whitmer advocated for and signed into law major funding increases for public schools, colleges and universities, as well as resources for free breakfast and lunch for all students, student mental health support, student loan forgiveness for educators, school safety, educator recruitment and rural transportation.

In addition, she’s signed bills that restore and protect educators’ workplace rights; roll back the unfair tax on retired public employees; increase school safety measures; reform the state’s “Read by Grade 3” law; repeal the state’s overly simplistic A through F school rating system; and much more.

“For the last eight years, educators across Michigan have been blessed to have an amazing ally and friend in the governor’s office in Governor Whitmer,” said MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County. “Gov. Whitmer has made strengthening our hometown schools a key priority throughout her administration, and her leadership has helped restore the hope and excitement educators feel when working with Michigan students.”

Going forward, this award will be presented to elected leaders who follow Gov. Whitmer’s example of making public education a top priority throughout their time in office.