HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A Hillsborough County teacher is in the running to be the National Hockey League’s “Most Valuable Teacher,” and the Tampa Bay Lightning is asking fans to make sure they vote.
What You Need To Know
- Kelli Michael, of Mulrennan Middle School, is a nominee for the NHL’s Most Valuable Teacher
- The 26-year educator at the Valrico school represents the Tampa Bay area
- Michael uses the EVERFI app to teach the science behind NHL plays
- The Lightning is urging people to vote for Michael
The NHL started the Most Valuable Teacher program as a way to recognize, and honor, the best Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) teachers throughout the country. The winning teachers’ school districts receive thousands of dollars in new technology for students.
Kelli Michael, who teaches at Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico, is a nominee representing the Tampa Bay area, and she said it’s an incredible honor. Sixty teachers who have made an impact across North America are being recognized.
Lightning forward Alex Killorn even made a special video asking fans to vote for Michael, who has been teaching for 26 years.
“It’s humbling,” Michael said. “There’s so many great teachers, but I’m representing science in our county. It’s very exciting.”
She used an app created by social impact education innovator EVERFI — with which the NHL, NHL Players Association and SAP have partnered — to help teach her students the science behind the game through the “Future Goals” program.
“They like it because it’s engaging with science, it’s a scientific method, but they don’t realize they’re doing science because they’re playing around with ‘Lightning’ things like the hockey puck, how it moves on the ice, how the goalie wears the pads and stops the plays, the pucks and everything,” Michael said.
Votes can be cast for Michael on the NHL’s website through Jan. 31.