Excellence in Education Program

There are two kinds of rewards in this world.

An extrinsic reward is the kind you can touch or feel or taste; your paycheck, a bonus, a new car, a new outfit, ice cold pecan pie with ice cream. These rewards tend to be external coming from our employers, clients, friends and family.

An intrinsic rewards cannot be seen, it cannot be touched. These are usually not visible to the eye. Intrinsic rewards, in many cases, are received when we have touched someone’s life, when we have made a difference. Intrinsic rewards make us cry, make us warm all over, and help us realize that life is about supporting others.

The Excellence in Education Program is all about intrinsic rewards. We acknowledge and honor teachers, students and parents for their accomplishments and their commitment to high standards.

We start by asking teachers and principals to select a few students from their school who represent academic, athletic or social excellence. Each student is then asked to identify which teacher has had the greatest positive impact. Each student recognizes his or her teacher by writing a letter describing how the teacher impacted the student’s life The honored students, their parents and the honored teachers are all invited to attend the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education dinner sponsored and hosted at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

That evening the students’ achievements are recognized and in turn, each student reads his or her letter to the teacher. The Excellence in Education Program encourages students to acknowledge the important role of teachers. It honors teachers by reminding them that their work “makes a difference.” As each student marches up to the podium, teachers in the room are reminded why they love to teach.

Kent Snyder
January 22, 2006