In 2005, we started the Great Lakes Scholars Teacher of the Year Award after receiving a touching email from a parent of a Great Lakes Scholar. It told us about a magnificent lady who taught her daughter. Despite battling cancer, she always put her students first. "Is there anything we could do to pay tribute to such a great educator?" the parent asked.

This email inspired Great Lakes Scholars to create its own Teacher of the Year Award. We named Mrs. Fran Gibbs as our first-ever recipient of the award and she was honored at a Great Lakes Scholars event and on the field at Great Lakes Scholars Night at Comerica Park.

Since then we have honored teachers based on judging and reading many fine essays submitted by their students. They have been honored on the field at one of our baseball games too. Past winners include:

2007: Mrs. Joyce Queen, Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland, Ohio

2008: Mrs. Retta London, Wooddale Elementary in Farmington Hills, MI

2009: Miss Sarah Zwirner, Carkenord Elementary in Chesterfield Township, MI

2010: Mr. Randy Thompson, Eagle Valley Schools in Eagle Bend, MN

This year, we're asking students to again nominate your teacher for the award. In 200 words or less, tell us why your teacher should be named the 2011 Great Lakes Scholars Teacher of the Year.

If chosen, your teacher will receive two tickets to the choice of one of our Great Lakes Scholars Nights @ the Ballpark in Detroit, Cleveland or Chicago. He or she will also be honored in our Great Lakes Scholars 2011 edition book and receive a plaque noting their accomplishment.

Email us your essay at info@GreatLakesScholars.com or mail it by July 18, 2011 to:

Teacher of the Year Award
Great Lakes Scholars
P.O. Box 365
Birmingham, MI 48012

Please include your name, grade, phone number and email address (if you have one). If your teacher is selected, we will contact you and your parents.

The teacher you select must be a participant in the 2011 Great Lakes Scholars program. There is no charge to submit a nomination. All nominated teachers and student essays may be mentioned or published in our 2011 Great Lakes Scholars book.

This is your chance to say THANK YOU to your teacher.