Like Wilcox, a mathematics teacher at East Kentwood Public Schools in Kent County has been honored with Michigan’s ‘Teacher of the Year’.

The teacher has been teaching for the last 15 years. He was valedictorian of his high school class. According to his colleagues, he lives and breathes education, he provides academic support to fellow teacher and has always been a mentor to countless students.

In a statement the state Superintendent Brain Whiston said: "Luke is a dynamic example of our Michigan teachers."

"He sets a high standard not only for himself, but for his students and fellow educators. He strives to be a catalyst that ignites these teachers with that inspiration and motivation to continue their reach for greatness."

The Michigan Teacher of the Year program is a part of the Michigan Department of Education, each year it honors a top teacher among the dozens of teachers who get nominated.

A committee set up by the Michigan Department of Education chooses the top teacher by looking their biography, written essay that describes the teacher’s educational history, their professional activities, their philosophy of teaching, and their thoughts on emerging education trends and issues.

Wilcox was one of five finalists for the honor.

He said that his greatest accomplishments as a teacher are the hundreds of students he has inspired and motivated during his teaching career.

"While I am proud of all their academic achievement, I am most satisfied with their ability to reach goals far beyond what the students originally expected of themselves," Wilcox said.

Wilcox will get a non-voting seat at the table for monthly State Board of Education meetings, where he will have the opportunity to share his insight on education issues.

Meemic Insurance Co. Is one of the sponsors of the program. It will provide Wilcox’s school with a $1,000 award in his honor and $10,000 to cover travel expenses related to the teacher of the year program during the year he serves.

The finalists for the award are:

−Jennifer Crotty, a government teacher at Fitzgerald High School in Warren

−Raymond Herek, a math teacher at Williamston High School

−Dave Stuart, a world history and English teacher in Cedar Springs Public Schools

−Gina Wilson, a math and science teacher at the Washtenaw Educational Option Consortium.

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