LAPEER, Michigan — Lapeer Community Schools superintendent Matt Wandrie will receive an Innovative Educator Award from the Michigan Creativity Group next month at the Michigan Creative Educators Summit in Lansing. Wandrie will be the lone superintendent honored among a group of five in the inaugural class.

“I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of a great school district and supportive community,” Wandrie said. “To be in a position to be recognized for innovation goes far beyond my role as superintendent. It requires dedication from every level of the organization, including the advice and support of a strong board of education.”

Wandrie, who will also be a keynote speaker at the event, said the award is just another reminder that educators across the state are looking at Lapeer as a model for innovation.

“We decided early on that we couldn’t simply wait for things to get better,” he said. “We had a vision, a plan to bring it to fruition and a structure to support it moving forward. Four years later, we are now able to see how all students can benefit from a sustainable focus on innovation.”

Wandrie’s session will focus on the creation of the Center for Innovation (CFI) at the former campus of Lapeer West High School. The facility has become the research and development arm of the District, housing numerous programs including Project Lead The Way, L-12 Capstone, College on Campus and robotics. Matt Olson, the director of the facility, will also host one of the share sessions focused on CFI.

Wandrie, who came to Lapeer in July 2011, also presented “The Lapeer Story” at the Innovative Schools Conference in December. LCS will host a “Day of Conversation” with EdTech Specialists on April 27.  This is an opportunity for educators from across the state to share questions, ideas, strategies and knowledge with administrators and other educational leaders.

Innovative Educator Award Recipients:

Matt ​Wandrie ​- ​Superintendent ​of ​Lapeer ​Community ​Schools

Kim ​Mathiot ​- ​Education ​Research ​Consultant ​- ​ ​Michigan ​Department ​of ​Education

Bob ​Richards ​- ​Robotics ​Instructor ​- ​ ​Stockbridge ​Advanced ​Underwater ​Robotics ​Team

Kate ​Fanelli ​- ​Math ​Accessibility ​Specialist ​at ​Michigan’s ​Integrated ​Mathematics ​Initiative

Brad ​Wilson ​- ​EdTech ​Consultant ​and ​Co-Founder ​of ​ WriteAbout.com ​- ​Jackson ​County ​ISD, ​WriteAbout.com, ​21 ​ Innovate, ​LLC.