The Lansing School District wasn’t surprised to learn one of their own had won a Michigan Education Excellence Award.
For them it was confirmation of something they already knew - Eastern High School Principal Reniero Araoz is a great educator.
“We’re very pleased and honored and have great pride in Mr. Araoz because he’s always done a great job at Eastern High School,” district spokesman Mark Mayes said.
The Education Excellence Award was given to Araoz, along with Christine Morgan, a social studies teacher in Imlay City Community Schools and Jamey Fitzpatrick, vice president of development and education policy for Michigan Virtual University during the seventh annual Governor’s Education Summit in Lansing on Friday.
“It was a surprise and a nice one,” Araoz said. “It’s something you always hope for, and I accepted (this award) on behalf of all of us. This really is everybody’s award. I provide the leadership and facilitate what we need to do, but it takes everyone to do it - parents, staff, students.”
It’s that cooperation that deems Araoz worthy of admiration, Mayes said.
“Being a principal may be the toughest job out there,” Mayes said. “It requires many skills and many hats to keep things running smoothly.”
Araoz has been principal of Eastern High School, 220 N. Pennsylvania Ave., for eight years, but he has been in the Lansing School District for 23 years serving as assistant principal for Gardner Middle School, 333 Dahlia Drive, as well as for Eastern High School.
He is also responsible for coordinating the district’s elementary bilingual instructional center and graduated from Eastern High School in 1972.
“It’s been nice being part of the district,” he said. “I’m back in the building (where I went to high school) working with some of the same teachers I had.”
Araoz received his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and his master’s and administration certificate from MSU.
The Education Excellence Award winners were nominated by a group of education leaders within their respective districts, said Matthew Resch in Gov. Engler’s communication office.
“Each winner has played a key role in the education community and they’ve all taken a part in making education in Michigan better,” Resch said.
For Araoz that comes from working as part of a supportive educational family.
“It’s important to create an environment with enthusiasm for teaching and learning, a place where staff and students are treated with dignity and respect,” he said. “We have that at Eastern.”
