LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Virtual has announced its 2025 Teacher of the Year and Mentor of the Year. Dayna DesJardins, a social studies teacher from Port Huron, has been named Teacher of the Year, and Brianna Capson, from Coopersville High School, has been named Mentor of the Year. These distinctions are given to Michigan Virtual instructors who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and leadership and enhanced student success in the online classroom. 

“Michigan Virtual students are privileged to work with highly dedicated and talented educators and mentors who have a passion for helping students succeed academically, mentally, and socially,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “Both Brianna and Dayna exemplify, through their deep passion for impacting the lives of their students and the leadership example they set among their peers, that whole child education helps students flourish.”

DesJardins has been an educator for 11 years at Port Huron Northern High School, where she currently teaches AP U.S. and World History in addition to online courses for students within the building. That experience opened her eyes to all of the high-quality educational opportunities available to students through the online space, and she joined the Michigan Virtual team. Now, she says, she loves to personalize feedback, differentiate instruction, and support students on timelines that honor their realities and help them master their own learning. 

“Dana started in a rural district with me, and now is in a big urban district with me. On behalf of the Board of Education and 900 employees and many students of Port Huron Schools, we’re just so proud of you and all you do for kids,” said Port Huron Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas at her awards ceremony.

“My goal as an educator is to cultivate a climate in my classroom where student voices are valued, heard, and respected,” said DesJardins. “To me, being a teacher is more than delivering content. It is about building relationships, fostering curiosity, and empowering students to see their own unique potential. I am actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, embrace new technologies to ensure all my students feel seen, supported, valued, and challenged.” 

Capson, a mentor for Michigan Virtual, has served in her role for eight years. She first connected with the Michigan Virtual mentoring program while she was teaching as part of her school’s special education program, working closely with another mentor. 

“Being a mentor with Michigan Virtual allows me to build strong, trusting relationships with students, understand their individual goals and challenges, and support them in a more personalized way, ” said Capson. “As an online mentor, I have the opportunity to help students develop essential life skills. More than anything, I want my students to leave my classroom knowing they are valued, capable, and resilient. I hope they remember that they can overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and that they always have someone in their corner who believes in them.”

Since its inception in 2015, 22 mentors and teachers have received the distinction of Michigan Virtual Online Mentor of the Year or Teacher of the Year. Individuals are nominated by Michigan Virtual instructors who are in regular contact with both students and educators regarding student progress and success.

To be selected for a mentor or teacher distinction, the instructor must be a positive and proactive communicator with other students, parents, and other Michigan Virtual instructors, and an ambassador for students to ensure their success. This distinguished award was established to set a bar for excellence and recognize the incredible leaders in the digital learning community. 

Learn more about Michigan Virtual mentors and teachers at michiganvirtual.org/mentors.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Virtual has partnered with Interlochen Online to launch accessible, confidence-building arts programming. Four virtual courses for middle and high school students are now being offered: Video Basics, Songwriting 101, Comedy Basics for Acting, and Getting Started with Digital Animation. 

Each four-week course is taught by Broadway stars, Grammy Award-nominated songwriters, touring musicians, published authors, and other accomplished creatives. Course requirements are flexible and non-credit bearing, allowing students to include them in their summer or usual class schedules. 

“This partnership is a perfect combination for students looking to expand into the arts,” said Alyssa Blaker, Associate Director of Engagement at Interlochen. “Michigan Virtual‘s reach can help elevate what we’re already working to do at Interlochen, and we can bring more arts options to expand the great STEM programming found at Michigan Virtual.”

These courses can bolster areas that aren’t always offered in traditional curriculum. With arts programming perpetually at risk, these can help students build confidence and creativity that can set them up for success in the future. 

“This partnership is the perfect way for students to be introduced to a subject of their passion, which they might not have had the opportunity before,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “These courses are set up to give them real, practical applications for their learning.”

All four classes began in June at $15 per course, but will be available all year round. There is no deadline for participation. As the program continues, Interlochen Online and Michigan Virtual will continue to expand offerings based on interest and engagement. 

To learn more or to sign up, visit https://enrichment.michiganvirtual.org/.

LANSING, Mich. — Edtech innovators from Sparktivity have been chosen as the winners of the fourth annual Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest, sharing $22,000 in business startup grants and legal and creative startup assistance with four other finalists. The concepts developed from the final pitches will be used to improve Michigan classrooms through innovation, technology, and firsthand educator experience. 

“The 2025 Ed Tech Pitch Contest team was fortunate to have five incredible finalists present to our judges and even more participants in this year’s bootcamp. As a judge, I’ve been part of a few of these pitch contests, and it really does get better every year,” explained Tom Stewart, a contest judge from the Michigan State University Research Foundation. “Each of these pitches is aimed to solve some of our communities’ biggest problems, and it’s such an honor to be part of the first step of our finalists’ journey.” 

The first-place prize went to Martha Ann (Annie) Hebel, from Forest Hills Eastern High School, for her work developing Sparktivity, a creativity app for students and teachers. Hebel will receive $10,000 in business startup grant funding, plus marketing and legal support. Sparktivity fosters creativity in K-12 classrooms, helping students strengthen divergent thinking and giving teachers tools to assess and track creative development. 

“Personally, this experience changed my life,” said Hebel. “I was looking to do something different, outside of the classroom. The Ed Tech bootcamp sparked my creativity, and I am forever thankful I was allowed to be part of this experience. I’m  excited to bring what I’ve learned into so many other spaces.”

The second-place winner was Mohamed Hagras, from Eastern Michigan University, who created RASTA, a Real Time AI Shooter Threat Alert program designed to detect and respond to gunshots and transform public safety in schools and community institutions. It can detect gunfire in under one second, eliminate false alarms, and send alerts to first responders. He will receive $6,000 in business startup grant funding, plus logo design support and legal consultation. 

The third-place winning team was FirstWord, founded by Rishabh Parekh in Farmington Hills. He presented an AI-powered communication coach built to level the playing field for early-career professionals, international students, and non-native English speakers. Using real-time voice analysis, professional roleplay simulations, and AI-driven feedback, FirstWord improves fluency, confidence, and delivery for high-stakes situations like interviews and presentations.

The finalist teams of IRST and Helio will each also receive start-up grants of $1,000 for their final round pitches. 

“This was truly an adventure,” said Noncy Fields, founder of IRST. “I was stretched outside of my comfort zone as a teacher, but I’m so happy I was able to participate and learn.”

The Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest is the result of a partnership between Michigan Virtual, Spartan Innovations, a subsidiary of MSU Research Foundation, and Michigan SBDC to bring impactful edtech ideas to life to solve common classroom problems and make teaching and learning more impactful. Sponsorship is generously provided by the Michigan Education Association’s Center for Leadership and Learning, Michigan Creative, Foster Swift, D2L, Consumers Energy, Case Credit Union, and Dewpoint. 

“For the fourth year in a row, the finalists in this contest continue to astound me. Every single one of our competitors brought passion and enthusiasm to this work,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Virtual and a pitch contest judge. “The winning pitches hold so much passion, energy, and potential for education moving forward; this is clearly just the beginning for our participants.”

To be eligible in 2025, Michigan educators and innovators must have submitted a written pitch by May 26 for finalists to be selected on June 20. All contest participants and all other Michigan edtech innovators were eligible to attend a free Innovation Bootcamp, which was designed to help participants further explore and develop a business model around their idea.  

To learn more about the contest and Michigan Virtual’s edtech catalyst efforts, visit michiganvirtual.org/edtechcatalyst.  

LANSING, Mich. — Five Michiganders have been chosen to advance as finalists in the Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest. Each of the finalists will advance to a pitch presentation on June 26, where first, second, and third place winners will be chosen. Finalists will share $22,000 in business startup grants and receive additional legal and creative startup assistance to implement their ideas. These finalists were chosen out of a pool of entrants in the EdTech Innovation Bootcamp, which ran through May and June. 

“As this contest has entered its fourth year, I’m heartened and inspired by the submission ideas we continue to see from Michiganders with a desire to say, ‘I wish there was an app for that’ in an educational setting,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO at Michigan Virtual.  “This contest is an opportunity for Michigan educators to directly impact classrooms by turning their dreams into reality. I wish our five finalists all the best in the next round of this contest.”

Michigan educators and innovators must have submitted a written pitch by May 26 for finalists to be selected on June 20. The Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest finalists and proposals are:

• RASTA, (Real-time AI Shooter Threat Alert) is a cutting-edge AI-powered gunshot detection and response system that transforms public safety in schools and community institutions, detecting gunfire in under one second to send verified alerts to first responders.  
• Creativity Apps for Teachers and Students draws from over two decades of teaching experience and research to foster creativity in K-12 classrooms by helping students strengthen divergent thinking while giving teachers tools to assess and track creative development. 
• Helio, an AI-powered learning platform that acts as a personalized homework coach for middle schoolers, absorbs classroom data, mimics the teacher’s style, and supports students with curriculum-aligned guidance. 
• The Identity Resource Screening Tool (IRST) is a web-based platform that helps educators prevent curriculum harm and teach diverse histories with integrity. IRST evaluates instructional texts for representation and portrayal, flags harmful narratives, and suggests empowering alternatives, all while aligning with academic standards. 
• FirstWord is an AI-powered communication coach built to level the playing field for early-career professionals, international students, and non-native English speakers. Using real-time voice analysis, professional roleplay simulations, and AI-driven feedback, FirstWord improves fluency, confidence, and delivery for high-stakes situations like interviews and presentations. 

Winners will be chosen during the live pitch competition on June 26 from 3-5 pm online. 

The Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest is the result of a partnership between Michigan Virtual, MSU Research Foundation, Michigan State’s Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Michigan SBDC. The first-place winner will receive $10,000 in business startup grant funding, plus branding and logo design support, and legal consultation. The second-place winner will receive $6,000 in business startup grant funding, plus logo design support and legal consultation. The third-place winner will receive $4,000 in business startup grant funding, plus logo design support and legal consultation. The fourth and fifth place finalists will each receive $1,000.

Branding and legal support are being donated by Michigan Creative and Foster Swift. All monetary prizes will be made available in the form of grants from Michigan Virtual to the winners.  

To learn more about the contest, visit michiganvirtual.org/pitch. 

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Virtual announced today a new partnership with the AI Education Project (aiEDU) to position Michigan for successful innovation opportunities within the AI in education space. This collaboration will accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and AI readiness across Michigan’s K–12 schools by expanding support for educators and leveraging the state’s existing network of instructional and educational technology coaches.

“Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world — and our classrooms. Michigan has a unique opportunity to lead,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “By partnering with aiEDU, we’re not only empowering educators to understand and teach AI, but also building sustainable leadership capacity to scale this knowledge across Michigan.”

This strategic collaboration begins with a Train-the-Trainer initiative —  a year-long program running from June 2025 through June 2026, designed to cultivate a core group of 50 Michigan educators as AI education leaders in their regions and districts. These trainers will be equipped to deliver foundational AI literacy training to colleagues, ultimately scaling impact and fostering equitable access to AI education for students statewide.

Participants in the Train-the-Trainer initiative will engage in virtual professional learning sessions, organized into two supportive cohorts. Educators will earn State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) while developing hands-on skills and pedagogical strategies to introduce students to the principles and implications of artificial intelligence.

“Educators are the change agents our students need; they’re absolutely critical to building a world where every student can live, work, and thrive in a world where AI is everywhere,” said Alex Kotran, CEO of aiEDU. “This partnership with Michigan Virtual taps into a strong professional ecosystem to ensure every Michigan learner has the opportunity to understand and shape the future of AI.”

“This partnership represents the kind of forward-thinking collaboration our education system needs,” said Tiffany Taylor, board member for both Michigan Virtual and aiEDU. “I’ve seen firsthand how each organization champions innovation and equity in learning. Together, they are equipping educators with the tools and confidence to prepare students for a future shaped by artificial intelligence — ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive in an AI-powered world.”

In addition to robust training, Michigan Virtual and aiEDU will provide open-access curricular resources to help teachers across all subject areas integrate AI literacy into their instruction. These materials are designed to be easily accessible, available to all types of learners, and aligned with Michigan Virtual’s AI Framework for Schools as well as national guidance on AI education.

This initiative builds on both organizations’ shared mission to ensure every student, regardless of background or zip code, is prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

To learn more about the Train-the-Trainer program or to access free AI resources, visit: https://michiganvirtual.org/ai/ or aiEDU’s resource hub.

This article was originally published in the Boyne Citizen on May 16, 2025.
By Jamie Baumann, jamie@boynecitizen.com

Planning was a focus of the Boyne City School Board meeting on Monday night. The board has been in the process of revising the strategic plan since fall and will have a final version for approval at the June meeting. The plan will be approved for the 2025-2026 school year only. 

In addition, consultant Lisa Sitkins, president and CEO of LSS Connections and Consulting, who was representing Michigan Virtual, will be working with the district on a process involving school and community stakeholders to define a “Portrait of a Graduate.”

Through community surveys and community and staff meetings, the goal will be to articulate a list of five or six competencies that all Boyne City High School graduates should possess in order to succeed in life beyond high school, whether that be working in the community, working in a technical career, or studying at a university. 

According to Sitkins, the Portrait of a Graduate establishes a shared mission for a community, which is important when tough issues and decisions are to be made. Board members can look back at the mission to guide their thinking. It builds essential skills and competencies like collaboration skills or critical thinking into the curriculum, looking at necessary competencies beyond passing standardized tests.

The Portrait of a Graduate creates a baseline for what every student should be able to do. The process provides a platform for engaging businesses, organizations, and other stakeholders in meaningful conversations about the future of education in Boyne City and creates community buy-in for the school district’s goals. Along with the strategic plan, Portrait of a Graduate supports continuous improvement. It gives a framework to help with strategic planning and allocation of resources. 

Once the competencies that the board and community decide are most important have been defined, then the district will embed them at appropriate times throughout the Pre-K through 12 curricula. This will ensure that graduates have practiced and possess these competencies. The timeline for the Portrait of a Graduate process should be completed by January 2026.

Superintendent Patrick Little said that he has met with the Boyne City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Trisha Wilcox and Boyne City Main Street Director Ingrid Day to enlist their help in distributing surveys to the community and finding those who might like to be more involved in the Portrait of a Graduate process.

“The Portrait of a Graduate will reconfirm your vision and mission, have you adapt it, or redefine it to support strategic planning and allocation of resources,” Sitkins said. 

After completing the Portrait of a Graduate, the board will revisit the strategic plan and make any modifications necessary based on that work. It will then become a multi-year strategic plan. 

Want to bring this level of clarity and community alignment to your district?

Michigan Virtual’s experienced consultants are ready to help you co-create a Portrait of a Graduate that unites your staff, students, families, and local stakeholders around a shared vision for the future. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to complement your strategic planning efforts, we can guide your team every step of the way.

Let’s build your district’s north star together.

LANSING, Mich. — This summer, educators and innovators from across Michigan are invited to gather for the fourth annual Michigan EdTech Innovation Bootcamp and pitch contest, where participants will develop their skills, ideas, and classroom innovations. 

Educators from across the state will come together between June 17-19 to discuss business ideas that will improve teaching or learning through the use of technology, culminating in a pitch contest on June 26th for five selected finalists. There is no cost to attend, and educators will earn up to 20 SCECH credits for their participation in the full bootcamp. Applications, open from April 14-May 26, serve as submissions for the pitch contest and EdTech Innovation Bootcamp. 

The bootcamp will allow educators to explore and develop a business model for their idea or business while developing skills and identifying resources to grow their business and positively impact teaching and learning. The Bootcamp is organized by Michigan Virtual with support from Spartan Innovations and the Michigan Small Business Development Center. 

“As technology develops and innovation expands, so too must our educators. It is our responsibility to stay ahead of the curve so our students and our schools can prepare families for any future,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “Educators know their challenges first-hand and have many ideas to address them.  Education technology provides innovative ways to get there. The EdTech Innovation Bootcamp connects these to support real change within our classrooms.”

The Bootcamp precedes the Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest, which will be taking place on June 26, 2025. Last year, $22,000 in prizes were awarded to first, second and third place winners to develop their business proposals. 

To learn more and register for the upcoming Bootcamp and Pitch Contest, visit michiganvirtual.org/edtechcatalyst. 

LANSING, Mich. — This summer, educators and innovators from across Michigan are invited to gather for the fourth annual Michigan EdTech Innovation Bootcamp and pitch contest, where participants will develop their skills, ideas, and classroom innovations. 

Educators from across the state will come together between June 17-19 to discuss business ideas that will improve teaching or learning through the use of technology, culminating in a pitch contest on June 26th for five selected finalists. There is no cost to attend, and educators will earn up to 20 SCECH credits for their participation in the full bootcamp. Applications, open from April 14-May 26, serve as submissions for the pitch contest and EdTech Innovation Bootcamp. 

The bootcamp will allow educators to explore and develop a business model for their idea or business while developing skills and identifying resources to grow their business and positively impact teaching and learning. The Bootcamp is organized by Michigan Virtual with support from Spartan Innovations and the Michigan Small Business Development Center. 

“As technology develops and innovation expands, so too must our educators. It is our responsibility to stay ahead of the curve so our students and our schools can prepare families for any future,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “Educators know their challenges first-hand and have many ideas to address them.  Education technology provides innovative ways to get there. The EdTech Innovation Bootcamp connects these to support real change within our classrooms.”

The Bootcamp precedes the Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest, which will be taking place on June 26, 2025. Last year, $22,000 in prizes were awarded to first, second and third place winners to develop their business proposals. 

To learn more and register for the upcoming Bootcamp and Pitch Contest, visit michiganvirtual.org/edtech-pitch-contest. 

LANSING, Mich. – To support early-stage education technology startups, the Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Virtual have announced a strategic partnership to launch the 10-week intensive program, Conquer EdTech Accelerator powered by Michigan Virtual in Fall 2025.

“Michigan has a strong foundation in both education and innovation, and this accelerator will connect promising edtech startups with the resources, expertise, and support needed to drive meaningful impact in classrooms,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO at Michigan Virtual. “Through this partnership with MSU Research Foundation, we are strengthening Michigan’s position as a leader in education technology and supporting the next generation of edtech entrepreneurs.”

 Too often, entrepreneurs face limited resources for scaling solutions for innovative K-12 education technology tools. By providing hands-on business training, mentorship, and milestone-based investment, the Conquer EdTech Accelerator fills a crucial gap in the development cycle of new education-focused businesses.

Participating startups will gain access to up to $20,000 in milestone-based investment from Red Cedar Ventures, as well as expert-led training in areas such as business formation, customer discovery, market analysis, intellectual property management, regulatory considerations, and federal grant opportunities. In addition to funding, teams will benefit from one-on-one mentorship, workspace, and connections to a network of industry experts and investors.

“The Conquer Accelerator program has a proven track record of developing high-growth startups, and expanding into the education technology sector is a natural next step,” said Tom Stewart, Director of Venture Programming at the MSU Research Foundation. “By leveraging Michigan Virtual’s deep expertise in K-12 education and our experience supporting emerging businesses, we are creating a program that will drive real innovation in edtech.”

The Conquer EdTech Accelerator expands MSU Research Foundation’s existing Conquer Accelerator Programs, which include similar entrepreneur support for the Health Tech, Finance and Insurance Tech, Research, and other early-stage startups across Michigan. The successful MSU Research Foundation Conquer Accelerator programs hold great promise for entrepreneurs with a $5 million portfolio in 2023, 78% still operating today, and an average $45 raised for every $1 invested.

The launch of the Conquer EdTech Accelerator reflects Michigan Virtual and MSU Research Foundation’s shared commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and advancing digital learning solutions. More details, including application information and program leadership, will be announced in the coming months. For details on the Conquer Edtech Accelerator, visit michiganvirtual.org/edtechcatalyst/conquer.

LANSING, Mich. – To celebrate National AI Literacy Day, Michigan Virtual is hosting an online webinar on Friday, March 28 at 11 a.m. for educators and parents to learn more about how to navigate the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence within schools. Parents and teachers are encouraged to register to attend for free.

“Given how quickly AI is evolving and the likelihood that today’s students will need to understand its implications for their role in the future workforce, we’re proud to be able to share important information about it with parents and educators,” said Justin Bruno, AI Learning Strategist at Michigan Virtual. “It’s important for communities across Michigan to be supported with a solid and safe foundation in AI literacy and know that their schools are being supported by Michigan Virtual and our partners.”

In December 2024, the Michigan Department of Education endorsed Michigan Virtual’s resources for AI guidance to schools in Michigan. The webinar will provide an overview on AI literacy efforts in K-12 education and presenters will also provide an in-depth look at how a number of Michigan schools and organizations have led AI literacy work, including AI-enhanced instructional practices, professional learning delivery, student-driven AI policy development, and community stakeholder engagement, in partnership with Michigan Virtual’s expertise and guidance.

The following Michigan educational leaders will present during the webinar:

• Michelle Gierman, Artificial Intelligence Consultant, Avondale School District
• Andrea Zellner, Learning Design Consultant, Oakland Schools
• Dave Tebo, Director of Innovation Services, Ottawa Area ISD

National AI Literacy Day, coordinated by the EDSAFE AI Alliance in partnership with aiEDU, is a nationwide day of action inviting students, parents, educators, and community members to explore the fundamental question, “What is AI?” Michigan Virtual’s webinar joins a series of events hosted across the nation to promote AI literacy through education. The EDSAFE AI Alliance is a global initiative led by InnovateEDU and powered by a coalition of organizations to provide global leadership for developing a safer, more secure, more equitable, and more trusted AI education ecosystem through a focus on research, policy, and practice. 

Michigan parents, educators, and other community members can register here to attend the March 28 webinar. To learn more about Michigan Virtual’s AI Lab, visit michiganvirtual.org/AI.