ANN ARBOR, MI -- A Thurston Elementary School music teacher was honored as the state’s music educator of the year at a ceremony last month, the Michigan Music Education Association announced Wednesday.

Yael Rothfeld received the annual award that goes to a teacher “who has served their students, communities and profession in an exemplary manner,” according to a news release.

“She is a model not just for her students, but for her colleagues as well, mentoring new teachers before they ever set foot in the classroom," Rothfeld’s nominator Carin McEvoy said in a statement. "She approaches her work with an inspirational creativity and sense of humor... Yael is a hard working and dedicated master teacher and is so deserving of this award.”

Rothfeld has taught in the elementary school north of downtown for 17 years. She has both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University, according to the release. Rothfeld also is an adjunct teacher at Eastern Michigan University and is a certified yoga instructor.

She plays piano and ukulele, according to her website.

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