Press

Kensington, CA, March 14, 2025 –The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has named Michael Craig, a dedicated special education teacher from Detroit, Michigan, as the 2025 National Special Education Teacher of the Year. Craig, who leads the Drew Horticulture Program at the Charles R. Drew Transition Center in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, is being recognized for his outstanding work in providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences to students with moderate to severe disabilities. Here is an in-depth interview with Michael Craig on the Let’s Go Learn podcast, Accelerating Education.

The prestigious award, sponsored by Let’s Go Learn, honors educators who exemplify excellence in special education and make a lasting impact on the lives of students with disabilities and exceptionalities.

Craig’s innovative Drew Horticulture Program has transformed the learning experience for students who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically impaired, or on the autism spectrum. By integrating evidence-based educational practices with agricultural education, he has created a vocational training program where students cultivate, harvest, and sell fresh produce at local markets. This initiative not only fosters employment opportunities but also provides fresh food to school families, community members, and local food banks.

“We are thrilled to honor Michael Craig as CEC’s 2025 Teacher of the Year,” said Julie Bost, CEC President. “His dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to his students exemplify the very best of the special education profession.”

Craig’s principal at Drew Transition Center, Robert Avedisian, also praised his leadership: “Michael Craig is an amazing special education teacher who has the vision to create and manage a program where special needs students are at the forefront, learning, experiencing, and modeling the very best in measurable skills.”

As part of his recognition, Craig will receive a $2,000 cash prize, a $1,000 classroom grant, and travel and accommodation expenses from the CEC Annual Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was honored in front of his peers.

The CEC Teacher of the Year is selected by the CEC Honors Committee and sponsored by Let’s Go Learn, a premier supporter of CEC and a leader in personalized learning solutions for students.

Let’s Go Learn is a personalized learning software company focused primarily on MTSS, special education, and intervention programming to support K-12 students. Over 20 years ago, Let’s Go Learn pioneered online, computer-adapted diagnostic assessments to determine the learning needs of each student. In contrast to limited screening tools, Let’s Go Learn’s platform quickly determines student deficits, needs, and causal relationships to help develop individualized learning paths for each student. Millions of students worldwide have benefitted from Let’s Go Learn’s assessment data, pin-pointed instruction, and robust progress monitoring. The platform is designed to monitor progress from interventions in specific areas, while building detailed reporting and data to support the development and tracking of IEP content and goals.

Media Contact: Richard Capone, 510-455-2098.