Educator of the Year: Michelle McGrath
We are thrilled to share that our incredible educator, Michelle McGrath, has officially been named the Empire Beauty School Educator of the Year, selected from over 70 locations nationwide! This recognition is more than just a title; it is a reflection of her deep commitment to education, her students, her colleagues, and the beauty industry as a whole.
Michelle, affectionately known as Ms. Shelly, by her students, has been an educator at our Green Bay, WI location since 2022. The Educator of the Year was selected from all Educator of the Quarter recipients for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, based on nomination forms, class attendance, academic performance, and the number of student drops.
Kyle Schoeneman, President and Chief Operating Officer, of Empire Beauty School shares:
“Ms. Shelly is an inspiration to all of us! Thank you for everything you do for our students who are fortunate to have you as a mentor! It was an honor to visit the wonderful Green Bay school and personally present her with this well-deserved award.”
Ms. Shelly graciously reflects on the honor and significance of receiving the Educator of the Year award.
“I am happy to be a part of what Empire is about. Being Educator of the Year is amazing and it stands out among all my achievements. I’ve won trips and other company-wide achievements, but being Educator of the Year is the best feeling ever. Knowing that I’ve given back and that it’s appreciated by the company and the lives I’ve touched means a lot. I’m all about continuing to grow and inspire. I want to continuously make our campus a better place to be,” shares Ms. Shelly.
For Ms. Shelly, the final push to enroll in beauty school came from her daughter, who encouraged her to pursue a dream she had always held.
“When my daughter was about to graduate high school, she reminded me that being an educator was always a goal of mine. She told me it was my turn to go to school and we can have a graduation party together. My daughter also does hair, she went to beauty school right after high school,” mentions Ms. Shelly.
For Ms. Shelly, completing our educator program gave her the chance to learn the Empire way up close and truly embrace our community.
“What drew me to work here was that I did the educator program here. I did my educator program with Miss Kay, she is a huge mentor of mine. I knew their core values and the staff I did the program with. Being a part of the family-type community means a lot. We all work together and support each other. We all listen to each other. I have worked at other beauty schools but what sets us apart is that we have the drive to be the best of the best. The core values that align with that make Empire a great place to work for,” said Ms. Shelly.
What motivates Ms. Shelly on challenging days? It’s seeing students have that “ah-ha” moment when everything finally clicks.
“Even on days where it’s hard, there is still a student that will tell you ‘whatever you said to me really clicked today.’ It’s getting students to that ah-ha moment that makes it valuable to be an educator. This is what inspires us to keep going.,” mentions Ms. Shelly.
To our students, she shares her advice, encouraging them to be patient with their own growth.
“Give yourself grace. Everyone has to start somewhere. Practice does not make perfect. If you think you are going to be perfect, you are going to set yourself up for failure. Practice makes it better,” shares Ms. Shelly.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Shelly on this well-earned and inspiring achievement!
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