North Michigan News

Sen. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) commended Holly Holm for being a 2020 recipient of the Michigan Education Support Staff Professional of the Year award.

“Holly Holm is one of Michigan’s most outstanding education support staff workers,” VanderWall said, according to the MiSenateGOP website. “To be recognized as one of the top two professionals in her field in Michigan is an incredible honor.”

Holm, an administrative assistant who has worked for the Crawford Oscoda Ogemaw Roscommon Intermediate School District (COOR ISD) for almost two decades, was praised for her dedication to her job and interactions with both students and staff.

Sen. Curt VanderWall | #MiSenateGOP

“Everyone knows the lengths that teachers have gone this year to ensure that our children receive a quality education, but we mustn’t forget that Michigan teachers cannot do their jobs without the hard work of tens of thousands of support staff doing their jobs,” VanderWall said, according to the MiSenateGOP website.

With the Michigan Department of Education naming Holm an Education Support Staff Professional of the Year, she now qualifies as a nominee for the U.S. Department of Education’s newly created Recognizing Inspirational School Employees Award. The national award will be presented during the spring of next year.

“Every day, Michigan’s dedicated educational support staff work hard to ensure our kids have the support they need to get a great education,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said, according to Michigan.gov. “As a mom whose daughters grew up in Michigan’s public schools, I want to personally thank all of those who have dedicated their lives to our kids. Our state is home to so many exceptional men and women working in our schools, and I’m excited to recognize them with these awards.”

Dawn Hendges, a food and nutrition service worker at Parma Elementary School in the Western School District, was the other recipient of the 2020 Michigan Education Support Staff Professional of the Year award.