Features

These three classifications are the result of a growing statewide dedication to eco-friendly education and environmental activities through the Michigan Green Schools program.

City High Middle School is home to one of only two Green Fellows in the United States, and students there are harnessing her leadership to blaze a new trail when it comes to school lunch sustainability. Find out how their cafeteria conversation is expanding to include terms from composting to economicology.

Through our partnership with Northwest Michigan Second Wave and Mid-Michigan Second Wave, InspirED Michigan visits a Muskegon County program called Read Early, Read Often, aimed at getting the youngest among us to read every day -- and their parents, too. It's doing it through a widespread effort to change the culture of the community into one that emphasizes reading.

Rachel Larimore brings InspirED Michigan readers her first-hand account of starting a nature-based preschool, and beyond.

For several years, the term “STEM” -- an acronym for “science, technology, engineering and math” -- has echoed through business and education alike. The Great Lakes Bay Region is positioning itself to compete in this arena, with business and education partnering to build the workforce for these jobs of the future.

Attending school for the first time is a scary thought, especially as a kindergartner. Sycamore Elementary in Holt has implemented a new way to ease the process -- through kindergarten teacher home visits. 

A dry erase marker squeaks across a white board while a young woman builds out a project plan for the upcoming mixer event, complete with deadlines, tasks and role assignments for her colleagues.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Michigan’s most passionate educators, public servants and business leaders gathered in the RenCen for GES15, the Governor’s Education and Economic Summit. InspirED Michigan Editor Kate Snyder brought us back this report.

In the Straits of Mackinac, where wind chills regularly hover at or below zero and snow can last until May, school on Mackinac Island has been called off exactly once this year.

One of our most popular stories wasn't written by a journalist or teacher. It was a story written by a student, passionate about his very unique -- and stunning -- experience attending Beaver Island Lighthouse School, and learning the true meaning of a school community.

A dry erase marker squeaks across a white board while a young woman builds out a project plan for the upcoming mixer event, complete with deadlines, tasks and role assignments for her colleagues.

Another popular article featured Horizon Elementary School Principal (now Holt Public Schools Superintendent) David Hornak, and was developed in partnership with Capital Gains. In it, we take an in-depth look at the year-round approach to public education (quite appropriate for our summer break issue, don't you think?).

Recycling, repurposing and teaching students to be friends of the earth is a way of life to Kevin Olson, design tech teacher at Clifford Smart Middle School in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. 

One day -- the 22^nd of every month. One district -- Alanson Public Schools. One color -- orange. These three things may seem disjointed but when put together you get a powerful movement toward bullying awareness.

This month, InspirED Michigan is bringing readers a guest column from Brandy Johnson, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network. MCAN works to increase college readiness, participation and completion in Michigan, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college students and students of color.